Normal life hit in Sambalpur by strike

Normal life was affected in this western Odisha town in a dawn-to-dusk strike by BJP today against transfer of faculty members of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla to other medical colleges.
Shops, business establishments, banks, educational institutions, financial institutions and government offices remained closed during the 12-hour bandh.
Public transport was also hit during the bandh with auto-rickshaws and other vehicles keeping off the road in Burla town, which wore a deserted look.
The protesters also picketed in front of government offices in their effort to enforce the bandh, police said.
Sambalpur BJP unit President Ramachandra Meher said VIMSAR is reeling under acute staff shortage but the state government has issued order of transfer of around 11 doctors from it.

The government should cancel the transfer order immediately in the interest of the people in the region and steps should be taken immediately to fill up all the vacant posts of doctors at the institute, he demanded.
Several social organisations also staged protests at Burla against the transfer order of doctors on Monday.
The Junior Doctors Association (JDA), PG Students Association, Undergraduate students association of VIMSAR also extended their support the bandh.