Bonded doctors in Uttar Pradesh protest unequal pay in Lucknow
Young doctors serving required state service bonds in India's Uttar Pradesh protested in Lucknow this week for equal pay, The Times of India and Dainik Bhaskar reported. Those at rural clinics say they earn far less than peers at medical colleges. Police removed some protesters.
Doctors serving mandatory government service bonds in India's Uttar Pradesh protested in Lucknow this week, demanding equal pay, The Times of India and Dainik Bhaskar English reported. They rallied on Tuesday, Oct. 13, The Times of India reported, and again on Thursday, Oct. 15, Dainik Bhaskar English reported. The doctors announced an indefinite work boycott until their demands are met, The Times of India reported.
Bond doctors are MBBS graduates who must serve in government health centers for a set time, The Times of India reported. Under the bond, they must serve two years or meet a ₹10 lakh bond obligation, Dainik Bhaskar English reported. The protesters are from the 2018, 2019 and 2020 batches, Dainik Bhaskar English reported.
The doctors say pay differs widely despite the same degree and duties. Those at community and primary health centers earn ₹50,000 to ₹65,000 a month, while bond doctors at government medical colleges get around ₹1 lakh or more, protesters said, according to The Times of India. Dainik Bhaskar English reported that some get up to ₹1.10 lakh.
The doctors say Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak promised on Sept. 2 that a government order would follow, but none has been issued, The Times of India and Dainik Bhaskar English reported. Dainik Bhaskar English spells his first name Brijesh.
Police detained several doctors after they gathered near the Gandhi statue on Tuesday, protesters said, according to The Times of India. "We were holding a peaceful demonstration when police removed us from the site," said Dr Simran Veer, according to The Times of India.
Police accused the doctors of protesting without permission and blocking the road, Dainik Bhaskar English reported. When doctors formed a human chain toward the Chief Minister's home on Thursday, ACP Rajneesh Verma sat on the ground with folded hands and asked them to end the protest, Dainik Bhaskar English reported.
What we know: Bond doctors are protesting unequal pay and say a promised government order has not come.
What we don't: Whether the state will issue the order, and how the boycott affects patient care.
Where outlets agree The Times of India and Dainik Bhaskar English report that bond doctors in Lucknow are protesting unequal pay and say a promised government order never came.
Where they differ The Times of India puts rural bond doctors' pay at ₹50,000 to ₹65,000 a month, while a doctor cited by Dainik Bhaskar English put it at ₹50,000 to ₹55,000.