As proposed talks between Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of agitating medical doctors could not materialize due to some health issue of the CM, the JCC has decided to continue their pen down strike but has deferred the earlier threat of going on indefinite strike from Saturday.
The JCC has been agitating in the state for the past few days to demand Punjab Pay Scales and Non Practicing Allowance (NPA) as per norms.
The Chief Minister had called the JCC office bearers for talks in Shimla on Friday to discuss their demands but the talks could not materialize as the CM had to visit IGMC Hospital Shimla regarding some health related issue and was scheduled to leave for Delhi in the afternoon.
Dr Pushpender Verma, General Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Medical Officer Association said, “We were on our way to Shimla for the meeting but got a message the CM will not be able to come for the meeting as he had gone to the IGMC hospital regarding some health related issue.”
He said, “We were informed the next meeting has been scheduled for February 21and we have decided to defer our call for an indefinite strike for now but continue with the two hour’s pen down strike in all medical institutions.”
Justifying their demands Verma said, “We are not demanding anything extra but Punjab Pay Scales and five increments as NPA as per the norms in Himachal Pradesh.”