Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 23: As the Governing Body for SK Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS) headed by Chief Minister is likely to consider enhancement in retirement age of the doctors and other staff members of SKIMS, the proposed move is likely to be opposed vehemently by the medical students and unemployed youth. According to the sources, the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has to chair the Governing Body Meeting of SKIMS Soura on Oct 25. "The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday in SKICC Srinagar, and the main agenda among others is to deliberate upon the rise in retirement age of medicos and other staff members of the institution," a government official told Early Times.
However sources said that the move is likely to be opposed by the upcoming doctors and unemployed youth based on a strong reason that the posts would not fall vacant as these shall be occupied by the doctors and other employees.
One of the worrying doctors who recently completed the post graduation talked to Early Times on condition of anonymity and stated that the government is opting to enhance the retirement age of SKIMS doctors from 60 to 65. "If this is done, there would be fewer vacancies for the aspiring doctors," he said. Similarly the unemployed youth have strongly opposed the move of the government to enhance the retirement age.
"If government increases the retirement age, job opportunities would further shrink. We demand that a uniform and justified view should be taken in the matter," Imran Ahmad who has recently completed his post graduation in Medical science said.
Sources said that since SKIMS is passing through financial crisis, the move to enhance retirement age would not be in the interest of the institution as this would inflate the budget provisions.
Sources said that the extension in retirement age of the doctors would further block opportunities for the young doctors.
Meanwhile scores of upcoming doctors who spoke to ET threatened that if the government will take such a decision, they would oppose it.
"Instead of increasing the retirement age, the government should give a chance to the young brains," Mehfoor Ahmad who has completed his MBBS said.
It is to mention here that the PDP-BJP Government recently reconstituted the Governing Body for SK Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS) Soura, Srinagar.
While Chief Minister is the Chairperson of the Governing Body, the members include Finance Minister, Minister for Health & Medical Education, Minister of State for Health and Chief Secretary.
The other members are Prof M S Khuroo, former Director SKIMS, Prof Puneet Dhar, Chairman, Gastrointestinal Surgery and Liver Transplant Service, AIIMS, Kochi, Kerela, Principal, GMC, Jammu, Principal, GMC, Srinagar, Principal, SKIMS, Medical College/ Hospital Bemina, Srinagar, Prof Khursheed Alam, HoD General Surgery, SKIMS, Prof Samia Rashid, Prof General Medicine, GMC Srinagar and Prof Altaf Ramzan, HoD Nero-Surgery SKIMS.
Director, SKIMS, Soura is the Member Secretary of the Governing Body. |
