Out of the 1,080 MBBS graduates who passed out of government colleges this year, 868 who were assigned temporary duty at Thiravananthapuram’s COVID First-Line Treatment Centres (FLTC) have decided to tender in their resignations.
They are protesting against deductions in their monthly salaries and the significant cuts from their pay cheques in the name of the Government’s salary challenge. Each of these fresh medical graduates were put on temporary three-month COVID duty at the FLTCs, with a promise of a monthly pay of Rs 42,000. However, in reality, they received only Rs 27,000 each month.
About Rs 8,400 is being deducted over and above the TDS and professional tax. The Kerala Junior Doctors’ Association has claimed that they are the only ones being subjected to such a deduction. Other professionals appointed on temporary COVID duty under the National Health Mission, are receiving their full salary as was promised.
According to the Government’s order, salaries of doctors appointed under the NHM should not be deducted in the name of salary challenge.
Many of these doctors who were appointed in May and June started receiving their salaries only from the month of August onwards, after they approached the High Court regarding the matter. The disgruntled doctors have decided to stop work after September 10, until the Government intervenes and addresses their grievances.
The Association has sent out letters to the chief minister and the health minister, seeking urgent intervention.
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