Srinagar, Jun 01 (KNS): Melting the ice, a delegation of Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) met with Minister for Health & Medical Education Dr. Devender Kumar Manyal at Civil Secretariat Srinagar on Thursday evening. The meeting followed when more than 3000 doctors across state observed two hour pen down strike to press for their genuine demands.
The meeting was held in a very cordial environment and lasted for two hours. The meeting was also attended by Director General Health Services, Kashmir Dr Saleem ur Rehman, Director Finance, Additional Secretary and other senior officers.
While calling all the demands of JK doctors as genuine and legitimate, Health minister has framed an empowered Committee to look over all genuine demands within a given time frame. The committee will be headed by Principal Secretary Health Medical Education and Director General Health, Dr Saleem ur Rehman, Director Finance, Additional Secretary Health, Deputy Secretary Health and three members from doctors bodies will be its other members. Welcoming the gesture of minister, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) has deferred its protest Programme. Final decision about the strike will be taken on 25th June after taking stock of the working of High power committee.
Pertinently JK doctors are demanding for two and half day salary, risk allowances, rural allowances, caderization of doctors, ordinance for offence against health officials, and transfer policy.
President DAK, Dr Suhail Naik said that “if at any time during this period, we feel that our demands are not being taken seriously we can proceed on strike.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelFurther doctors of our state will continue to avail Gazetted Holidays both as a matter of legitimate right as well as mark of continued protest till our demands are met”.
General Secretary DAK, Dr Owais H Dar said that “we are optimistic and hopeful that framed empowered Committee will address all our demands within shortest possible period of time. Furthermore he appreciated the dedicated efforts of all doctors & associations viz J&K Doctors Coordination Committee (JKDCC), Doctors Association Jammu (DAJ) , Society of Consultant Doctors (SCD), Society of Dental Surgeons J&K (SDSJK) , Chenab Valley Doctors Association (CVDA) , Ladakh Doctors Association(LDA) , Private Practitioners Doctors Association and others who took part in highlighting the issues confronting doctors.The meeting was attended by President DAK, Dr Suhail Naik, Gen Secy DAK, Dr Owais H Dar, Dr Mohd Yusuf tak, Dr Arshed Hussain Trag, Dr Mir Mushtaq, Dr Mohd Ashraf, Dr Imtiyaz Banday and Dr Masood Hassan.
Convener JKDCC, Dr Mohd Yusuf Tak apprised the Minister about unity and strength of doctors of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. He further added that the doctors of Jammu and Kashmir have very high hopes from the Health Minister and the High level Committee framed thereof. (KNS)