Stipend raised, Gujarat's docs call off stir

In a new development on late Monday evening, the striking resident doctors called off their 12-day-long agitation and resumed duty with immediate effect across the state.

The strike was called off after the government promised to give them a stipend of Rs20,000 each. The government also promised to give back the doctors their registration. Some doctors had their registration cancelled after they refused to end the strike.

Earlier on Monday, a long meeting between the striking resident doctors' core committee members and the state health minister, Jaynarayan Vyas appeared to have failed in breaking the deadlock with the doctors deciding to continue with their strike.

After the meeting, the resident doctors had said that the government had agreed to work on their requests but had refused to give it to them in writing. When DNA tried to contact Vyas he said he would talk later.  Afterwards, he remained unavailable for comment.

Earlier, state health secretary, Ravi Saxena when contacted for his comments said it was Vyas who was personally looking into the matter. Earlier in a mail to the RDs, Vyas had said that he looked forward to resolving the issue through talks. The negotiations were being carried out since Sunday night.