Striking doctors get a taste of their medicine

Kota milkmen stop supply to medical staff citing hardships after they went on indefinite leave

A file photo of students and resident doctors of All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Bhopal staging a demonstration.

Doctors of government hospitals in Rajasthan, who have gone on an indefinite leave since Monday, had a taste of their own medicine on Friday when the milkmen stopped supplies to their homes at Kota, the biggest city in the Hadoti region.

At its general body meeting, the Kota Private Dairy Federation decided that no milk be supplied to the homes of the doctors, nursing employees and paramedical staff because of the “immense hardship” caused to the people by their strike.

Plight of the poor

“When the seasonal diseases have broken out, the strike should have been the last thing on the minds of the doctors. Poor patients have nowhere to go,” federation president Umardeen Rizvi told The Hindu . Over 300 private dairies in Kota have asked milkmen to stop deliveries.

Mr. Rizvi said: “By stopping the supplies, we have highlighted the people’s anger with the doctors. We hope they will see reason and return to work.”

The State government invoked the Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act on Friday, making the strike unlawful. It raided the homes of over 12 doctors in Jaipur.

After the police detained Rajasthan Medical Council Registrar Jagdish Modi, who is also the convenor of the In-Service Doctors’ Association, Health Minister Kali Charan Saraf gave the doctors an ultimatum to return to duty.

Over 8,000 doctors have started the protest to press 33 demands, including formation of a separate cadre and grade pay benefit.