Mumbai: Resident doctors to hold indefinite strike from today

Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors MARD demanding better hostel accommodation a hike in stipend and clearance of arrears will hold a statewide indefinite strike starting today at 5 pm reported news agency ANIDr Abhijit Helge MARD President said that the Central MARD had kept our faith in the governments words and called off our strike multiple times previously despite the distressing situation of resident doctors reported ANIWe the Central MARD had kept our faith in the governments words and called off our strike multiple times previously Despite the distressing situation of resident doctors the benefit of doubt was always given to the authority and we entrusted them to do the right thing in timely manner to ensure the welfare of Resident doctors However regardless of our innumerable pleas it seems our genuine concerns have fallen on deaf ears Having been pushed to the limit by the cruel disregard towards the resident doctors legitimate demands we the Representative Body of the Resident doctors are left with no choice but to go on a panMaharashtra indefinite strike the letter from MARD said reported ANIHowever the association has clarified that the emergency services will remain operational to ensure the provision of essential medical care to the people during the strikeAround 8000 resident doctors across the state will be on strike demanding better hostel accommodation a hike in stipend and clearance of arrears Dr Abhijit Helge said reported ANIEarlier on February 7 the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors MARD decided not to go ahead with their strike after a meeting with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar who agreed to their demands reported the PTIMARD representatives had a meeting with Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif Pawar and officials of the Medical Education and Drugs Department as per the PTIThe Maharashtra government has also agreed to release the monthly payment of stipend henceforth and directed the finance department to release the exact amount of requested funds every month the MARD saidThe resident doctors had also demanded immediate grant of necessary funds and fasttracking of all the PWD public welfare department work across the state to ensure completion of repairs of existing hostels and initiation of construction of new hostel premisesMARD had also demanded that arrangements be made to lease out buildings as a temporary substitute for hostels until new infrastructure is builtWith inputs from ANI and PTI