Ranchi, Oct. 21: Doctors at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) are heading for a showdown with the government following a directive that they would have to declare movable and immovable assets owned by them.
The last date for the declaration is tomorrow.
The doctors have taken strong exception to the “series of circulars” sent by the government, which they say have “no meaning” and are aimed at just “harassing” them. Earlier, the government had asked them to give a statement on whether they wanted to remain with RIMS or not.
After asking the doctors to specify their option, the government shot off yet another circular which said the posts in RIMS were “non-commercial”. This implied that doctors working in the premier health institute would not be allowed to practice in private. It also asked the doctors to state that they were not working anywhere else.
“I don’t know why do they want to get details of our movable and immovable assets. There is also no point asking us to stop private practice since we are not getting non-practising allowance (NPA),” said a RIMS doctor.
RIMS director K.P. Shrivastava said: “The letter has come from the government so I cannot comment much. But I think it is aimed at improving the service of the institute. The service code also makes it mandatory to declare one’s assets at the time of joining.”
The Indian Medical Association has reacted cautiously on the issue. Ranchi unit secretary Shekhar Choudhary Kajal, while welcoming the move, said the government should ask for declaration of assets from other officials as well.
“We welcome the move as it will foster transparency. But why only doctors? Similar provisions should be made for government officials, ministers and politicians. Why single out doctors only?” Kajal said, adding that the IMA will take up the issue with the government.
The government, he said, is taking “irrational” steps. “The government has not even come out with service by-laws for doctors and other staff of RIMS. There is complete confusion there. They are talking about issues which are irrelevant at this moment,” Kajal said.
The doctors argued that the government’s decision to convert RMCH into RIMS was taken “in haste”. “Ideally the government should have first done the groundwork before declaring autonomy for RMCH,” said another doctor.
