Gandhinagar, July 27 (IANS) The Gujarat government has threatened to sack over 1,200 resident doctors, enrolled in the post-graduate programme, who are on strike for the past four days to press their demand for hike in monthly stipend.
Deans of all government medical colleges have been asked to initiate disciplinary action, including expulsion, against all striking resident doctors.

The government in a statement Monday said there would be no leniency against the striking medicos.

The doctors are demanding Rs.25,000 per month as stipend against a revised Rs.13,188 they get presently. The stipend was revised early this year from Rs.11,082.

The government has also invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the striking doctors that will invite a jail term and a fine if they didn’t return to duty by Monday evening.

However, the Gujarat Association of the Resident Doctors (GARD), leading the strike, is undaunted and said the doctors are prepared to face any action by the government. They also said they were open to negotiations with the government on the issue.

Nearly 700 resident doctors from across the state gathered in Ahmedabad Monday to chalk out their future course of action.