Medicos ignore TN govt's ultimatum

CHENNAI: Ignoring the Tamil Nadu government's ultimatium asking them to return to the classes on Monday, the striking medicos  intensified their agitation by launching an indefinite fast to exert pressure on the Centre to drop its proposed move to make one year rural posting compulsory.
 
The medicos, under the banner of Tamil Nadu Medical Students and  House Surgeon's Council, met at the Government Stanley Medical  College premises and decided to intensify their stir by launching  an indefinite fast.
 
''Even if the government closed down the colleges and hostel, we will stand in the streets and continue our agitation'', a spokesman of the council told.
 
The decision of the medicos to continue with their stir, came in spite of the Tamil Nadu government's directive on December 1 asking them to return to classes on Monday failing which the government would be forced to close the colleges and hostels.
 
''If they close the Hostel, we have no other option but to vacate it. However, our stir will continue till the Centre drops its move as it would increase the duration of the MBBS course by one year to 6-1/2 years'', he said.
 
''We are not against rural posting. We are willing to work for any number of years. But give us a posting as professional doctors after the MBBS course. We don't want to go to rural areas and function as students'', was the common refrain among the medicos.
 
The government had said that the agitation was unwarranted as Union Health Minister Dr Anbumani had clarified that a committee has been constituted to look into the issue and that the Centre was awaiting its report.