AYUSH Medicos Storm Commissionerate Office in Secunderabad Over Stipends

AYUSH house surgeons and postgraduate scholars in Telangana intensified their 17-day protest on Thursday by storming the AYUSH Commissionerate office in Secunderabad, demanding higher stipends and pay parity.

Nearly 100 medicos and PG scholars gathered at the Commissionerate office under the banner of the Telangana AYUSH Joint Action Committee (AYUSH-JAC) in an effort to hold talks with senior health authorities. The demonstration came after what protesters described as a lack of conciliatory measures from the State government.

The protesting medicos highlighted a significant disparity between their remuneration and that of their allopathy counterparts in Telangana. Currently, allopathy PG scholars in the state receive stipends ranging between Rs 67,032 and Rs 74,782, while AYUSH PGs are paid between Rs 30,947 and Rs 34,385. In addition, house surgeons and interns in allopathy receive Rs 29,792, whereas AYUSH house surgeons receive Rs 13,754.

The medicos also drew comparisons with stipend structures in other states. Neighbouring Andhra Pradesh pays its AYUSH interns Rs 25,906 and PG scholars up to Rs 64,767, while stipends in states such as Delhi and Uttar Pradesh exceed Rs 95,000.

Dr Anurag Singh, vice-president of the Telangana State Ayurveda PG and House Surgeons Association, stated that senior health officials had been avoiding talks with the protesting medicos. He affirmed that the doctors will continue their agitation until the State government meets their demand for increased stipends.