Black Armbands, OPD Boycott and Indefinite Strike Planned if Demands Remain Unresolved
Dehradun: The Uttarakhand Government Ayurveda and Unani Medical Service Association has launched a statewide phased agitation to press for the fulfillment of several long-pending demands of medical officers serving in the AYUSH department. The protest began on June 8 and is expected to intensify in the coming days if the state government fails to address the issues raised by the association.
As part of the first phase of the agitation, Ayurveda and Unani doctors across Uttarakhand wore black armbands from June 8 to June 10 as a symbolic protest against what they describe as prolonged administrative neglect. The association has also announced a statewide boycott of outpatient department (OPD) services on June 13, along with demonstrations at district headquarters.
According to association president Dr Neeraj Kohli and general secretary Dr Hardev Singh Rawat, repeated meetings and discussions with government and departmental authorities have failed to produce concrete action on several pending matters affecting AYUSH medical officers. They stated that despite providing healthcare services in remote and difficult terrains across the state, doctors continue to face delays in career progression, promotions, and policy implementation.
Key Demands Include DACP Implementation and Departmental Restructuring
The association has highlighted a number of unresolved issues, including the appointment of a departmental director, disposal of pending Assured Career Progression (ACP) cases, implementation of the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) scheme, departmental restructuring, expansion of promotional avenues, correction of study leave-related anomalies, and regularisation of eligible employees.
One of the major concerns raised by the association is the non-implementation of DACP benefits approved by the Uttarakhand Cabinet in 2022. Doctors have alleged that despite cabinet approval, the government has yet to issue the necessary order to extend the benefits to eligible AYUSH medical officers.
Concerns Raised Over Biometric Attendance in Remote Areas
The association has also objected to linking salary disbursement with Aadhaar-based biometric and mobile application-based attendance systems. According to the doctors, many Ayurvedic and Unani hospitals are located in remote and mountainous regions where internet connectivity and technical infrastructure remain inadequate, making such attendance systems impractical and unreliable.
Association leaders argued that enforcing digital attendance mechanisms without strengthening infrastructure could create unnecessary hardships for medical officers serving in rural and difficult locations.
OPD Services to Continue Till June 12; Indefinite Strike from June 15
While protest activities will continue on June 11 and June 12, the association has clarified that OPD services will remain operational during these two days. However, if their demands are not addressed, AYUSH doctors have warned of an indefinite strike beginning June 15.
The proposed next phase of the agitation will include a sit-in protest at the Directorate of Ayurveda, potentially impacting healthcare services provided through the state’s AYUSH network.
The association has urged the Uttarakhand government to initiate immediate dialogue and issue pending orders to prevent disruption of healthcare services and resolve long-standing grievances of AYUSH medical officers.
