Aher snub to medical teachers sparks protest

Aher snub to medical teachers sparks protest
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

Nashik, Jan 17: Nashik BJP MLA and former health minister Dr Daulatrao Aher, who is also chairperson of the Maratha Vidhya Prasarak Samaj (MVPS), has angered medical college teachers by refusing to meet them when they tried to submit a memorandum to him over their long pending demands. Consequently, they have gone on an indefinite strike over their demands and Aher's arrogance.

According to the Nashik Medical College Teachers Association, a delegation of teachers had gone to meet Dr Aher to attract the attention of the MVPS, which runs the medical college at Adgaon, towards their demands. However, Dr Aher not only refused to meet them but insulted them by calling their gesture a "tamasha" and calling them names.

The delegation wanted to present a memorandum of demands to Dr Aher. The demands included permanent appointment orders to teachers, proper seniority and promotions, fixed payscales, implementation of the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission, appointment of a qualified principal, providing well-equipped hospital, and stopping arbitrary appointments.

The simmering discontent among the teaching staff of the medical college has lead to a fullblown agitation as the MVPS has suspended five teachers and issued showcause notices to 45 others. The college has about 90 staffers. The MVPS has accused the teachers of indiscipline. The MVPS is the largest educational institution in north-Maharashtra. The medical college is run by the MVPS since 1990. According to the teachers' association, there are numerous irregularities in the college, including arbitrary and temporary appointments and promotions.

The association has also accused the MVPS of flouting the norms of the Medical Council of India. The association has pointed out that while the norms stipulated the attachment of a 750-bed hospital to the college, the MVPS has been showing 80 to 100 beds of the State Government's district hospital attached to the college.