New Delhi: Faculty associations from AIIMS, New Delhi, and PGIMER, Chandigarh, will stage a symbolic “Dandi March” today to press for the long-pending implementation of the rotatory headship policy in their institutions. The march will begin at 5 pm from AIIMS to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Faculty Association of AIIMS (FAIMS) and the Faculty Association of PGIMER (FA-PGIMER) said the protest was a continuation of their earlier campaigns, including a hunger strike launched on June 1 and a “Paidal March” followed by a meeting with the Health Secretary on August 5. Despite repeated assurances, the government has yet to act on the demand.
The associations have urged faculty members and supporters to “join the peaceful, disciplined, and united march” and stressed that the protest aims to secure a transparent, democratic system of leadership in premier medical institutions.
For over a decade, the two faculty associations have been demanding a fixed-term, rotatory headship system in place of the existing model. Multiple expert panels, including the VK Paul Committee, have supported the proposal in principle. In its survey, 78% of faculty at both AIIMS and PGIMER backed the policy.
The Ministry of Health had earlier directed both institutions to adopt a collegium system in 2023 as an interim measure, with a review after one year. However, faculty members allege that the promised transition to rotatory headship has not moved forward, even after several high-level discussions.
The VK Paul Committee report revealed strong support for the policy among junior and mid-level faculty — 82% professors, 89% additional professors, 78% associate professors, and 95% assistant professors were in favor. In contrast, 76% of current department heads opposed the change, with 8% suggesting alternative systems.
Despite these differences, almost every committee formed by the Centre in the past decade has endorsed the principle of rotation. Faculty groups say the delay has eroded trust and created leadership imbalances in the country’s top medical institutions, prompting them to escalate their protest to the Prime Minister’s Office.
