Resident doctors across civic hospitals run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation have begun a symbolic black ribbon protest, intensifying pressure on authorities over the long-pending implementation of Dearness Allowance (DA) revisions.
Protest Begins After Talks Fail
The agitation, led by the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors, commenced on Wednesday after repeated discussions with the administration failed to yield any concrete outcome.
Initially planned earlier this month, the protest was deferred following a request from Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Public Health) Sharad Ughade, but with no resolution in sight, doctors decided to proceed.
DA Hike Pending Despite Government Resolutions
The core issue revolves around the non-implementation of DA hikes announced by the Government of Maharashtra.
Despite official resolutions approving incremental increases—12% from July 2024, 11% from January 2025, and 8% from July 2025—resident doctors in BMC hospitals claim these revisions have not been applied.
Currently, doctors report receiving DA at approximately 443%, significantly lower than the revised 474%, resulting in a 31% gap and mounting arrears over nearly 21 months.
Financial Stress and Growing Discontent
The prolonged delay has not only caused financial losses due to unpaid arrears but has also led to frustration among resident doctors.
In its representation to the Medical Education and Major Hospitals wing, the association stated that despite continuous follow-ups since August 2025, authorities have failed to provide any definitive update or timeline for implementation.
Warning of Full-Scale Agitation
BMC MARD has warned that if the issue is not resolved immediately, the protest will escalate into a full-fledged agitation starting Friday.
Dr Amar Agame, General Secretary of the association, said that doctors may proceed on mass leave in OPDs if an official circular is not issued soon, emphasizing the urgency of the matter amid rising living costs.
Protest Without Disrupting Patient Care
Despite the agitation, doctors have continued their duties, wearing black ribbons while attending to patients.
Dr Digvijay Jadhav, President of Nair MARD, stated that the protest reflects both the commitment of doctors toward patient care and their concern over the delay in DA implementation.
Demand for Immediate Action
The association has reiterated its demand for the immediate release of the DA circular and urged authorities to expedite the process. With tensions rising, the coming days will be crucial in determining whether the administration addresses the concerns or faces a larger healthcare disruption across Mumbai’s civic hospitals.
