Rajasthan government doctors call off strike

Jaipur: Agitating government doctors called off their strike on Sunday night after the Rajasthan government took initiative to end the 11-day-long stir over pay hike and time bound promotions.

Dr Ajay Choudhary and Dr Nasreen Bharti, president and general secretary of Akhil Rajasthan Rajya Sevarat Chikitsak Sangh, announced to call off the strike late night after a
meeting with state Energy Minister Jitendra Singh at his residence.

Bharti said all the government doctors will now resume their duties.

The doctors decided to call off the strike after the state government took initiative to end the deadlock by lifting Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act (RESMA) and ordered release of all the jailed doctors.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot earlier held a high-level meeting and decided to lift RESMA and ordered release of the agitating doctors who were put behind bars under the Act.

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Gehlot decided to set up a committee of five ministers to review the cases lodged against the agitating doctors under RESMA.

The panel will also take view on the action of suspension and termination taken against the doctors by the government during the strike, an official said.

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After the government's decision, a delegation of the agitating doctors met the Energy Minister late at night and held discussion over the issue. They later announced to call
off the strike around midnight.

The panel comprises of Medical and Health minister Duru Miyan, Energy Minister Jitendra Singh, Industry Minister Rajendra Pareek and MoS (medical) Rajkumar Sharma and MoS
(Home) Virendra Beniwal.

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The in-service government doctors had gone on strike on December 21, demanding pay hike and time-bound promotions. The government had claimed that their genuine demands have already been addressed and vested interest will not be tolerated.

After the imposition of RESMA, several agitating doctors were arrested and over 60 doctors were suspended. The service of two chief medical and health officers and 10 medical
officers were also terminated during the strike.

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The Gehlot government tried to minimise the impact of the strike by making alternate arrangements with the help of Army, BSF, Railways and private doctors.

In the meantime, striking medicos said that they were ready for dialogue with the government but the deadlock continued for 11 days.

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Later, the agitating doctors shifted their focus to RESMA and demanded lifting of the Act and release of jailed doctors. As their demand was fulfilled by Gehlot tonight, the medicos called off their strike.