AMHSDA row: Doctors stage relay hunger strike at various places
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi/Noney, November 28 2022:
As a part of AMHSDA's (All Manipur Health Services Doctors Association) ongoing stir, doctors under CMO Kangpokpi today staged a relay hunger strike at the District Hospital campus in Kangpokpi.
Speaking to media persons, Dr Paotinlal Haokip, AMHSDA executive member representing Kangpokpi district stated that the hunger strike was launched to protest the Government's failure to fulfil the demands of the association despite numerous appeals, representations, personal meetings with Chief Minister, Ministers, etc.
He continued that democratic forms of agitation such as donning black badge for 5 days, sit-in-protest in all 16 districts of the State, and even suspension of the proposed one-day OPD closure on November 19 did not have any positive outcome.
According to Dr Lolee P Mao, general secretary AMHSDA, the first round of negotiation was held on November 14, 2022, at the Office Chamber of the Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Services in the presence of Director, Health Services; AMHSDA president, general secretary and AMHSDA Working Committee where it was agreed to put up time bound promotion, raising of superannuation age to 65 years as an administrative post for Specialists as well as nonSpecialists Doctors, NPA as per Central 7th Pay Commission w.e.f January 1, 2016 and major Amendment of proposed 2020 MHS Rules out of the eight demands put forth.
The second round of talks was held at the Conference Hall of the Minister, Health & Family Welfare Services on November 18, 2022 where both sides, considering the importance of the Sangai Festival agreed not to disrupt the festival.
AMHSDA also suspended the closure of OPDs on November 19 after assurance from the Minister to fulfil the demands in due course.
However, AMHSDA in its emergency general body meeting held on November 22 at Amity Hall, Adimjati, Khongnang Ani Karak, after a marathon deliberation resolved that the two years delay in delivering and addressing the doctors' basic & fundamental rights shall be taken as denial of delivering justice.
It also considered the Home Department Order dated November 17, 2022, terming the AMHSDA genuine demands as unreasonable, unbecoming and its peaceful demonstration and democratic activities as illegal as very serious, threatening & demeaning the doctors as a whole and therefore resolved to resume and intensify its ongoing agitation from November 26.The general body meeting then resolved to launch a relay hunger strike to be followed by mass casual leave.
Moreover, District Health Society Noney also carried out a Relay Hunger Strike today at Noney PHC campus, Noney District HQ in support of the demands raised by AMHSDA.