'Violation of Govt orders': Rajasthan doctors flag 3-year HRA dues, bias in Udaipur, Kota medical colleges

Resident doctors in Rajasthan have raised serious concerns about the financial exploitation faced by non-service residents in all RAJMES-affiliated colleges for three years and the discriminatory stance taken against resident students of Udaipur and Kota medical colleges.

In two separate statements, the Doctors Welfare Federation (DWF) has highlighted the pending grievances – non-payment of House Rental Allowance (HRA) to non-service residents in all colleges under the Rajasthan Medical Education Society (RAJMES), and discriminatory treatment of students at Udaipur and Kota medical colleges.

Non-payment of HRA allowance to non-residents

Zakir Khan, national director of the DWF, in a statement called the non-payment of rental allowance of Rs 5,000 per month for non-service resident doctors in RAJMES-affiliated medical colleges as “persistent injustice”.

The official government order reads: “Residents who are not in Government service and are not allotted hostel accommodation is allowed extra stipend of rupees 5000 per month w.e.f. 01.06.2023 subject to the conditions that extra stipend shall only be sanctioned in cases where hostel accommodation of Medical College does not remain vacant / the incumbent has not denied acceptance of the hostel accommodation allotted to them.”

Despite the Rajasthan state government’s existing order to provide a rental allowance of Rs 5,000 per month to non-service resident doctors in RAJMES-affiliated medical colleges, they “have not been granted this allowance to date”, Khan said.

This, he stated, is a clear violation of government directives and highlights prolonged economic exploitation of resident doctors.

He further urged the Commissioner of RAJMES, Iqbal Khan, to ensure immediate disbursement of all pending HRA allowance to non-service residents and issue clear directions to RAJMES to guarantee regular and timely payment of allowance in the future.

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DWF calls out bias against Udaipur, Kota students

Vikas Bamnia, national president of Doctors Welfare Federation (Resident Wing) raised another issue faced by resident students of RNT Medical College Udaipur and Government Medical College Kota.

Following the unfortunate demise of Dr Ravi Sharma at Udaipur Medical College, a strike was held by the resident students. Later, this protest period was duly adjusted as leave for students of Bikaner, Ajmer, and Jhalawar Medical Colleges. However, in a clear act of bias and prejudice, the same relief was not extended to students of Udaipur and Kota medical colleges, Vikas Bamnia said.

“This unfair and discriminatory stance is completely unjust and condemnable,” he added.

Further, he urged the state government to issue directions to college administration to regularise the attendance of all resident students of Udaipur and Kota medical colleges.