Resident doctors in Maharashtra call off strike on day-four

Doctors affiliated to Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) today called off their strike with the state government promising to fulfil its assurances to the body.
While the resident doctors at state-run hospitals ended the strike earlier in the day, those at municipal hospitals ended it this evening. Bombay High Court had asked striking doctors to call off the agitation and government had last night invoked Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act.
Medical Education Minister Vijaykumar Gavit said government would fulfil assurances given to MARD on April 22, the day before the strike started.
The government has agreed to hike the doctors' stipend, which at present ranges between Rs 31,000 to Rs 35,000 per month, by Rs 5,000 per month. The cabinet would decide when the hike would come into effect, Gavit said.

MARD had demanded basic pay of Rs 15,500 against the present Rs 6,500, and facilities on par with resident doctors of central government institutions.
In 2009, the government had assured that stipend would be increased every three years. "Decision on whether to effect the hike from 2012 or from this year will be taken in the cabinet meeting. The government incurs expenditure of Rs 130 crore every year on stipend of resident doctors. If the hike is effected from today, the burden would be additional Rs 15 to 16 crore," Gavit said.
However, he sad the government would probe "if the doctors were instigated to go on strike, and action would be taken against the guilty.