Medical college teachers rally for salary hike in Ahmedabad

Members of the Gujarat Medical Teacher's Association (GMTA), on Friday, read out their longstanding complaint - being paid less-that has been falling on deaf ears in the government.

However, this time they have decided to go one step further and have planned a mass strike in case the government fails to act on their pleas.

"For two years we have been complaining incessantly. Medical teachers get between Rs20,000 and Rs30,000 less than a teacher of arts, commerce or science which we feel is unjust to us. We work not only as teachers but as doctors during natural calamities or any other catastrophes and also assist and carry out operations, work round the clock serving hospitals, among several other things," GMTA member Dr Makwana said.

Dr Makwana added that while teachers and doctors get paid under the UGC commission, medical teachers get their salary under the Tikku Commission. He said, "Every six years, salaries of teachers and doctors get a hike in the range of Rs37,000-Rs67,000, whereas we get the hike only after 25 years of service. We are not even given time-bound promotions as others."

Nearly 2,100 cases of doctors having given ad hoc services have been pending for five years, as rules and regulations have not been implemented yet.

The GMTA will stage a rally on Saturday, at 1pm from Income Tax to the Collector's office and submit its demands to the latter. The teachers will go on mass casual leave on Friday, August 12. Their action will intensify into a mass strike, in case the government fails to act fast.