Statewide Agitation Announced
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) has called for a statewide candlelight protest and sit-ins at all government medical colleges at 6.30 p.m. on Friday. The agitation is aimed at highlighting unresolved grievances that have persisted for years.
Escalation Planned for October 10
If the state government fails to act on their concerns, the association has warned of intensifying the stir with a statewide sit-in scheduled for 1 p.m. on October 10. Kerala currently has 12 government medical colleges offering MBBS programmes, with 1,755 seats, making the issue central to the state’s medical education framework.
Pending Salaries and Pay Disparities
The teachers’ association has been pressing for solutions to several long-standing issues, including unpaid salaries, arrears of dearness allowance, pay discrepancies at the entry-level cadre, and the absence of new teaching posts in recently established medical colleges, according to IANS.
‘Black Day’ Protest Observed
Earlier this week, faculty members had already observed a ‘Black Day’ in protest against the government’s inaction on faculty shortages, infrastructure gaps, heavy workload, and delayed pay revisions. The move signaled the growing discontent among medical teachers.
Staffing Shortages Impact Services
Relocation of existing faculty without sanctioning new posts has worsened staffing shortages, affecting not just medical education but also patient care services. KGMCTA leaders stressed that this has delayed the induction of young doctors into the system.
Leadership’s Warning
KGMCTA President Dr Roshnara Begum T. and General Secretary Dr Aravind C.S. cautioned that continued government indifference could force teachers into stepwise teaching boycotts and even outpatient service strikes, escalating the situation further.
Call for Urgent Intervention
The protests reflect mounting frustration among government medical college faculty in Kerala. Teachers demand timely payment of salaries and allowances, correction of pay anomalies, and adequate staffing to ensure that both medical education and healthcare delivery are not compromised.
