The postgraduate medicos of JJM Medical College at Davanagere have not been paid stipend for the past 15 months. They should be receiving around Rs 40,000 every month. Currently there are about 233 medicos working in the district government hospital who have not been paid a single penny for months. They say they will be forced to go on an indefinite strike if a decision in this matter is not taken before May 17.

These medicos are among the frontline workers in the COVID-19 ward of the district hospital. Currently, Davanagere is the fifth worst hit district in Karnataka with 65 active cases. According to a report by Times of India, the department of medical education (DME) has paid stipend until 2018 and it was stopped after an audit objectioon was raised. The director of medical education Dr PG Girish told ToI that it is the district hospital, under the health and welfare department, that has to pay the stipends. According to the health department, the college should be paying the stipend.

Uncertain about the situation and stuck between authorities that do not seem to be willing to take the responsibility, the students are threatening to go on a protest as they say they need to repay student loans and pay their utility bills and manage other expenses. “If a final decision is not taken before May 17, we will go on an indefinite strike,” said a spokesperson of the Junior Doctors’ Association.       

However, the JJM Medical College authorities say that the government should consider that they have paid Rs 2 crore as clinical fees to the Chigateri District Hospital and Women and Children’s Health Hospital and hence, the government should pay the stipend.

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Source: Times of India