Government panel holds talks with in service doctors

JAIPUR: A day after in-service doctors threatened to skip Holi celebrations, a sub-cabinet committee constituted by the state government held a meeting with the doctors' representatives to resolve the dispute.
The doctors had decided to protest against the government for not reinstating their status as on December 20, 2011. In the 11-day agitation by the doctors, 12 doctors were terminated from their service, and several were transferred, while some were booked under violation of RESMA (Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act).
On Saturday, the panel comprising health minister AA Khan, power minister Jitendra Singh, industry minister Rajendra Pareek, minister of state for home Virendra Beniwal told the doctors about the government's efforts towards fulfilling their demands.
"Due respect will be given to doctors' sentiments and feelings," said Pareek.
The discussion centred over reinstating the status of the doctors and withdrawing the termination orders.
Post meeting, the doctors' representatives expressed satisfaction over the ministers listening to their demands.
However, the in service doctors are yet to withdraw the call on not celebrating Holi.
All Rajasthan in Service Doctors Association general secretary Nasrin Bharti said, "It took only 24 hours for the government to dismiss 12 doctors but now 2 months have passed and no decision has been taken to reinstate them. We request the chief minister to reinstate the status before Holi."
The association has also called a meeting of office bearers in all the districts on March 6 to discuss future strategy.