CUTTACK: Doctors of the physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) department of Swami Vivekananda National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (SVNIRTAR) at Olatpur called off their mass leave protest after three days on Friday.
All nine PMR doctors, who had resorted to an indefinite symbolic protest over multiple demands, resumed their regular medical duties on Friday afternoon following the intervention and assurance of higher administrative authorities. With the doctors rejoining duty, patient care services at SVNIRTAR were normalised.
“Joint secretary of department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Richa Shankar, who is also the chairperson of the executive council of SVNIRTAR, personally spoke to Dr Pabitra Sahu, head of the PMR department, and advised us to call off the protest and resume duty immediately. She assured us that steps would be initiated to fulfil our demands,” said a PMR doctor.
The PMR doctors had initially launched a symbolic protest by wearing black badges for a week from July 28, demanding among other things, implementation of dynamic assured career progression on par with other national institutions and increase in the retirement age from 60 to 65.