Kerala govt. medical college doctors stage Secretariat dharna, begin relay hunger stir

The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) staged a Secretariat dharna and began a relay indefinite fast on Tuesday (January 27, 2026) in protest against the alleged neglect shown to their long-pending demands related to pay revision arrears and rectification of anomalies in the entry-cadre pay revision.

Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) doctors held a token boycott of out-patient (OP) services, non-emergency services, and teaching services.

A relay hunger strike will also begin at Thiruvananthapuram MCH here from Wednesday (January 28, 2026).

The KGMCTA had earlier deferred its agitation following discussions with the State government. It has been protesting since July 1 last year against the government decision to freeze salary revision arrears for doctors while releasing them for other State government staff.

Government Order

After multiple rounds of negotiations, the most recent one on January 12 this year, a government order that was issued subsequently proved to be disappointing for it provided only a partial allowance to compensate for the pay cut in the entry cadre, without retrospective effect or continuity into the forthcoming pay revision.

The KGMCTA also alleged that the government had remained completely silent on the issue of payment of pay revision arrears. The arrears period includes the time when doctors served the State during the COVID-19 pandemic, often risking their own lives, it said.

Intensifying the ongoing agitation, the KGMCTA led by its State leaders, including president Rosnara Begum T. and general secretary Aravind C.S., led a demonstration to the Secretariat, while Dr. Begum, Dr. Gopakumar, and Dr. Bipin B. Pallath began the hunger strike.

The KGMCTA warned of further protests if the government failed to act on their demands.

From February 2, doctors will boycott all teaching and OP services and from February 9, all non-emergency surgeries will be suspended, followed by a total boycott of university examination duties beginning February 11.

To mitigate the impact on the public, essential services such as emergency, ICU, labour room, and inpatient care have been exempted from the strike.