Kangpokpi doctors launch relay hunger strike
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, November 28 2022:
In sync with the announcement made by All Manipur Health Services Doctors' Association (AMHSDA), a relay hunger strike was launched by doctors under CMO, Kangpokpi on Monday at District Hospital campus, Kangpokpi.
Speaking to the media on behalf of the agitating doc tors, AMHSDA executive member Dr Paotinlal Haokip conveyed that the doctors are compelled to take out the agitation as appeals, submission of representations, meeting with the CM, ministers, etc., for more than two years remained unfruitful.
He said democratic forms of agitation such as wearing of black ba'dge for five days, sit-in protest in all 16 districts of the state and even suspension of proposed one day OPD closure on Nov 19 had no positive impact on the government.
Dr Paotinlal said that AMHSDA, peeved with state government's apathy and demeaning of its doctors, decided to launch the relay hunger strike following the resolutions adopted in its emergency general body meeting held on November 22 in Imphal.
The relay hunger strike will be carried out in all 16 districts with three districts each at a time.
On Monday, the relay hunger strike was held in Kangpokpi, Noney and Kakching districts followed by similar agitations in Senapati, Ukhrul and Jiribam districts on November 29 and on November 30 in Churachandpur, Tamenglong and Pherzawl districts.
The agitation will be staged on December 1 in Imphal East, Imphal West and Chandel district while on December 2 it will be held in Thoubal, Tengnoupal, Kamjong and Bishnupur districts.
According to Association's general secretary Dr Lolee P Mao, the first round of negotiation was held on November 14 at the office chamber of Health & Family Welfare Services additional chief secretary in the presence Health Services director representing state government with AMHSDA president and general secretary along with AMHSDA Working Committee where both sides agreed to put up time bound promotion, raising of superannuation age to 65 years as an administrative post for specialists as well as non-specialists doctors, NPA as per Central 7th Pay Commission with effect from January, 2016 and major amendment to the proposed.
2020 MHS Rules out of the eight demands put forth.
The second round of talks was held at the conference hall of Health minister in the presence of Health & Family Welfare Services deputy secretary and Health Services director as government representatives, and AMHSDA president, general secretary, advisor and AMHSDA Working Committee on November 18.In the meeting, both sides considering the importance of Sangai Festival agreed not to disrupt the festival and AMHSDA suspended the proposed plan of OPD closure on November 19 even as the health minister assured of fulfilling the demands of AMHSDA.
However, an emergency general body meeting was held on November 22 at Amity Hall, Adimjati, Khongnang Ani Karak and resolved that the two years' delay in delivering and addressing the doctors' basic and fundamental rights shall be taken as denial of delivering justice.
It also considered the Home Department Order notified on November 17 terming the AMHSDA's demands as unreasonable, unbecoming and its peaceful demonstration and democratic activities as illegal as very serious, threatening and demeaning the doctors as a whole.
As such the doctors resolved to resume and intensify its ongoing agitation from November 26, he recounted, adding that as resolved the relay hunger strike would followed by mass casual leave agitation.
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