Among the 20 representatives of junior doctors, 10 had a meeting with Health Minister Surya Kanta Mishra and the remaining met the committee members. “We submitted our demand of increasing the stipend in accordance with the Supreme Court order,” said Dr Avik Ghosh, a junior doctor of the Calcutta Medical College (CMC).

According to the doctors, while the committee assured that it would consider the demands and submit a recommendation to the health minister, Mishra said he would implement the recommendations once he receives them.

The strike will continue, though. “Since we did not receive a written assurance from any authority, we will continue the strike and discuss the course of action in our general body meeting,” said Ghosh.

With doctors of the B C Roy Hospital and the Bankura Medical College also joining the strike from Tuesday, alternative arrangements for the patients have been set up.