West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced an increase in salaries for doctors and medical staff in the state. The announcement comes several months after massive protests across the state over the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
Mamata announced a hike in salaries of senior resident doctors by Rs 15,000, adding that the salaries of Diploma-holding senior resident doctors will now be increased to Rs 80,000, while that of Post-Graduate senior resident doctors to Rs 85,000 and Post-Doctorate senior doctors to Rs 1 lakh per month.
Meanwhile, the stipend of the interns, house staff, Post-Graduate trainees and Post-Doctoral trainees have been increased by Rs Rs 10,000, the CM said.
"We previously increased the salaries of both senior and junior resident doctors, but a further revision is necessary. Therefore, we have decided to raise the salaries of senior resident doctors across all levels by Rs 15,000,” Mamata Banerjee said at a special gathering of senior and junior doctors and medical students at Dhono Dhanyo auditorium in Kolkata.
“As a result, Diploma-holding senior resident doctors will now receive Rs 80,000 instead of Rs 65,000, while Post-Graduate senior resident doctors will get Rs 85,000 instead of Rs 70,000. Additionally, Post-Doctorate senior doctors, who currently earn Rs 75,000, will now receive Rs 1 lakh,” the CM added.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, while announcing the hike for medical staff, said, “I announce an increment of Rs 10,000 for all interns, house staff, Post-Graduate trainees, and Post-Doctoral trainees.”
Mamata Banerjee also referred to the murdered woman doctor of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital as her sister and extended her deepest condolences to the victim’s parents.
The 31-year-old junior doctor was raped and killed at the state-run hospital in Kolkata on August 9 last year, triggering national outrage. She also demanded strict punishment for those responsible for the crime.
“I extend my condolences to the family of the sister who was killed in RG Kar hospital. We demand proper punishment in this case,” Banerjee said.
She added, “I had also taken to the streets in protest against the incident. Our government had passed the Aparajita Bill, but it is still pending (with the President).”
The Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill, 2024 was unanimously passed by the West Bengal Assembly in September last. The Bill proposes capital punishment for rape convicts if their crime results in the victim’s death or leaves her in a vegetative state.