Junior doctors and medicos of VSS Medical College on a dharna near Assembly in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 18: Agitating junior doctors and postgraduate medicos remained adamant on their decision to continue with their strike, even as the state government today decided to reopen VSS Medical College at Burla from September 20, besides initiating measures to provide security to them.

The VSS Medical College and Hospital was closed for an indefinite period on September 7 following a clash between a group of students and local people. Junior doctors and medicos from SCB and MKCG medical colleges have extended their support to the VSS students by launching ceasework agitation. “We will continue with the agitation till all our demands are met,” said Premraj Debta, president of Joint Action Committee.

State health minister Prasanna Acharya, who chaired a high-level meeting at the secretariat to resolve the deadlock, said: “In the interest of the academic career of the students, it has been decided to lift the indefinite closure of the medical college from September 20.”

Stating that steps were being taken to prevent criminal elements from creating disturbance on the medical college campus, Acharya said: “Entry of one Sisir Kumar Dandia, allegedly involved in the attack on a postgraduate student at VSS Medical College at Burla, on the medical college campus would also be prevented. The police have initiated steps to erect barricades on both sides of the road running through the campus to regulate the entry of visitors. Adequate police force has also been deployed on the campus to maintain law and order.”

He said that instructions had been issued to medical college principals and superintendents to formulate their security plans and involve the students’ representatives. The panel, however, insisted on a written commitment from the government. “We want a written commitment from the state government. It has given us verbal assurances several times in the past, but never kept its words,” said Debta.

The demands of the agitating medicos include reopening of the case against Sisir Dandia, issuance of non-bailable warrant against him, dropping of false charges against students, unified security campus and regularisation of duties of those who were absent during previous and current strikes of VSS and SCB medical colleges.