Around 281 Ayurvedic doctors have written a letter to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray seeking his permission to end their lives over disrespectful behavior and non-fulfillment of promises by the Maharashtra government.
Disappointed over the prolonged posting in backward tribal areas, the BAMS doctors said that they have been serving in 18 tribal districts for the last two decades, and have been visiting remotely located villages that do not even have basic facilities.
They treat locals in these backward areas for various ailments, including minor illnesses, snake-scorpion bites, treating malnourished children, etc.
The letter written by Ayurvedic doctors comes days after an Ayurvedic doctor Swapnil Lonkar ended his life after he was denied a posting even though he had cleared the MPSC (Maharashtra Public Service Commission) exam.
The state government gives special incentive allowances to police and government officials serving in these Naxal-affected areas, however, the same benefits are denied to doctors, who are being paid just Rs.24,000 as salary a doctor said.
The letter also highlighted that thousands of posts in the health department are still vacant. MBBS doctors have refused to work in these remote areas but the government isn’t giving us permanent appointments despite the fact that we have been dedicatedly working in such remote areas for the last two decades.
Last year, after a meeting between the doctors and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Health Minister Rajesh Tope, and the Tribal ministry it was decided that these 281 Ayurvedic doctors working in tribal areas would be given Rs.40,000 rupees instead of the present Rs.24,000 rupees. However, this decision is yet to be implemented.
