AYUSH Doctors Strike Over Low Stipends

AYUSH doctors across Telangana have initiated an indefinite strike, protesting inadequate stipend amounts. The doctors, including house surgeons and postgraduate students, assert that their remuneration has seen little change for more than ten years. They are demanding that their stipends be brought in line with those of their allopathic counterparts. The Telangana AYUSH House Surgeons and Post Graduates Joint Action Committee stated that their strike began on Tuesday following a lack of response from authorities to a prior notice. Around 2,500 AYUSH doctors from five government colleges are involved in this protest. The current monthly stipend for an AYUSH house surgeon is approximately ₹13,000, with postgraduates receiving about ₹30,000. This contrasts sharply with allopathic house surgeons earning around ₹28,000 and postgraduates receiving approximately ₹70,000. The disparity is highlighted when compared to Andhra Pradesh, where AYUSH doctors receive stipends closer to allopathic doctors, with house surgeons earning about ₹26,000 and postgraduates around ₹65,000. Despite repeated representations over the years, the issue remains unresolved. The strike will persist until the government rectifies the stipend imbalance.