Doctors across the state on the call of Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today held a black band protest against the insensitive and shameful approach of authorities & the Govt. towards resolving the burning issues of the doctor fraternity pending since long. Dr Suhail Naik,President Doctors Association kashmir said that, Doctors have been peacefully pleading their cause at Directorate or Secretariat level since decades but it seems the authorities are least interested in resolving our issues and mere exploitation is a norm now.
We have chalked a phase wise protest startegy to give Govt. a last chance to wake from deep slumber or else a complete shutdown of hospitals will take place on 25th June and any catastrophe theroff will be solely Govt.'s fault,Dr Naik said. General Secretary DAK, Dr Owais H Dar said that Govt. has taken us for granted and hardly bothers about addressing our issues and it is immense deplorable that employees who work less than us and have comfortable duties are being paid more than us. DAK warns the Govt. that if they are not serious about Pay Anomaly, Risk Allowance, Two & a Half day salary and rural allowances and other important demands with no financial implications like Caderisation , Ordinance for voilence against Doctors etc Doctors will take this struggle to its logical conclusion by state wide strike.
Protest calender issued by DAK few days back has kick started. Today's black band protest should be an eye opener for the Govt. and they should leave the policy of taking this profession lightly. Govt. has always shown a step motherly treatment towards us when it comes to enhance perks or allowances. DAK has already issued a protest calendar but we are still hopeful that Govt. will come clean and positive on this issue. The Protest Calendar issued by DAK is supported by J&K Doctors Coordination Committee which is an amalgam of Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK), Doctors Association Jammu (DAJ), Chenab Valley Doctors Association (CVDA), Society of Consultant Doctors (SCD), Society of Dental Surgeons Jammu Kashmir(SDSJK), Private Practitioners, Ladakh Doctors Association. DAK is thankful to all doctors and associations who came forward to demand for their genuine & legitimate issues.