Jammu, Oct 5: Despite the state government taking a tough stand over the strike called by Doctors Joint Action Committee, over 4000 junior doctors Monday began an indefinite strike in Jammu Medical College and its associated hospitals. The government threatened it may invoke Essential Services Maintenance Act against the striking doctors.
 A spokesman of DJAC, Satinder Singh, said despite assurances by Finance minister and Health minister, the state government was adopting delaying tactics on their demands of pay hike. The junior doctors are demanding higher pay grades, integration of post-graduate stipend with that of House or Assistant Surgeon and time-bound promotion.
 Work was badly affected in the hospitals across Jammu, officials said, adding that emergency services were being run by senior doctors. The strike affected health care services in Kathua, Billawar, Basholi, Rajouri, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar and Batote.
 Meanwhile minister for Medical and Technical Education, RS Chib, and minister for Health, Sham Lal Sharma, convened a meeting here last evening which was attended by Divisional Commissioner Jammu, IGP Jammu, Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Principal GMC Jammu, HODs and senior officers of Health department.
 The meeting took a serious note of the strike call while their demands were under consideration of the government. It was decided that all necessary measures would be taken to deal with the situation.
 Chib said the demands by doctors were being considered and the government had assured the doctors that their genuine demands would be met before Darbar Move and this was agreed upon by the doctors’ association.
Hinting at invoking Essential Services Maintenance Act, the minister said the government would not succumb to the pressure tactics of the doctors and stern action would be initiated against those trying to disturb the healthcare services. “Government will not hesitate to invoke ESMA,” he threatened.
Fahad Shah reports from Srinagar:
After a meeting with a team of junior doctors from Jammu, Junior Doctors Association Kashmir today said it won’t join the strike till October 22 because of the assurances by Finance minister in a recent meeting with its representatives.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 5 Oct 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 5 Oct 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 6 Oct 2009 00:00:00 IST