HYDERABAD: With the Telangana Junior Doctors’ Association (TJUDA) refusing to end their strike, the State government on Sunday dashed off a circular to their parents warning that their wards might be debarred.
“You are hereby informed that your ward is not attending classes and is participating in the Junior Doctors’ Association’s strike since Sept 29. As per the directions of the Director of Medical Education, it is informed that the above period of not attending classes will be treated as absence and the same will be intimated to Dr NTR UHS,” the circular cautioned.
Stating that as per Dr NTRUHS guidelines, MBBS students require a minimum of 75 per cent attendance and PG medical students a minimum 80 per cent attendance to be eligible to take the university exams, it warned that any shortfall in attendance would make their wards ineligible to take the exam. “As per GO no 1022, any student participating in the strike can be debarred for a period of six months,” the circular warned.
The letter was sent to parents of protesting doctors by heads of all colleges across the State. Explaining the reason behind sending the letter, Director of Medical Education Dr Putta Srinivas said, “It is my responsibility to inform all parents about their child’s absence, which is why I have sent that circular.”
However, the protesting junior doctors remained unfazed. “We were prepared for this. We had conducted a parent info forum today at the Sundaraiah Vignan Bhavan, where parents were invited and informed about our demands and the gravity of the situation. We received a very positive feedback from them,” said TJUDA member Dr Girisha.
While admitting that this will have a bearing on the strike, the TJUDA members refused to give up the fight. “It (the letter) will definitely have an impact on the strike, but we are prepared for the worst,” Girisha added.