A delegation of medical teachers called on Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh and sought his intervention for resolution of their long pending issues pertaining to promotions and pay scales. They also presented a memorandum to the Minister on behalf of the Faculty Welfare Association of Lady Hardinge Medical College, Faculty Association of Safdarjung Hospital and Teaching Faculty Welfare Association of Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) & Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi.
The delegation representatives sought Dr Jitendra Singh’s indulgence with the plea that he himself being a medical teacher and a member of the academic faculty, would be able to understand their issues better and suitably project the same at appropriate fora in the government. They explained in detail, what they described as contradictions, in the procedures of promotions and pay scales.
The members of delegation alleged that, even though they originally belong to the teaching cadre of medical education, some of the benefits due to them were being availed by the Non-teaching Specialist cadre of Central Health Services (CHS). They also said that while there was a reported demand for enhancement of retirement age from 62 years to 65 years by Non-teaching cadre, they who belong to the original teaching cadre were not favourable to the demand and also claimed that this suggestion was against the recommendation of the 7th Central Pay Commission.
The memorandum submitted by them suggested that the shortage of medical specialists can be overcome by re-employment on contract basis, thus, avoiding the enhancement of retirement age which might jeopardise chances of others.
In memorandum submitted by them, the medical teachers demanded the creation of an exclusive post of Director General Medical Education for the teaching cadre of CHS. They also demanded that the Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) posts in CHS should be proportionately earmarked for the teaching cadre of CHS and further suggested that out of 19 existing HAG posts, 6 should be out rightly earmarked for teaching cadre with immediate effect.
Prominent among those who represented the delegation were Dr S.Thomas, Director-Professor Surgery, Dr Ramchander, Director-Professor Dermatology, Dr Anil Mittal, Director-Professor Forensic Medicine, Dr Himani Ahluwalia, Professor Physiology and Dr Thejaswani, Assistant Professor Forensic Medicine.