Dharamsala, June 27

Members of the HP Medical Officers’ Association, Kangra wing, have decided to go on an indefinite pen-down strike from tomorrow against the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission of Punjab. The doctors will remain on pen-down strike from 9.30 am to 11.30 am.

Dr Sunny Dhiman, president of the association, said the HP Government followed the pay scales given by Punjab. The Sixth Pay Commission of Punjab had recommended reduction in allowances for doctors, he said. It had also recommended that the Non Practicing Allowance (NPA) paid to doctors would not be linked with their basic pay. This would cause financial loss to doctors working in the government sector. The doctors working in the government sector in Punjab were already on strike and Himachal doctors stood in solidarity with them, he said.

The association demanded the state to increase the NPA for government doctors from 25 per cent of the basic pay to 35 per cent. Dr Dhiman said the association was trying to contact Dental Medical Officers’ Association, Ayurvedic Medical Officers’ Association and Veterinary Medical Officers’ Association to form a joint front. — TNS