Unani doctors hold protest in Mumbai in support of demands
Mumbai, Nov 22: Unani doctors Thursday held a protest here demanding reservation in government jobs in Maharashtra and parity with ayurvedic physicians.
The protest was organised at the Azad Maidan in South Mumbai by the Integrated Medicine Practitioners Association (IMPA).
IMPA General secretary Zubair Shaikh saida 2014 Government Resolution (GR) had assured jobs to Unani doctors in state-run primary health centres (PHCs).
However, the decision has not been implemented yet, he said.
"We only want respect and parity (with ayurvedic doctors). BUMS (Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery) practitioners, too, play a major role in the society," he said.
Shaikh,who is also vice-president of the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), said in India there are 1.5 lakh Unani doctors of which around 9,000 are from Maharashtra.
"The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) needs to establish a post of deputy director for Unani medicine," he said.
Shaikh said the government has declared a plan to set up a medical hub in Jalgaon, North Maharashtra.
However,the government has not approved a Unani medical college there, though it has announced that ayurvedic, allopathic and homoeopathic colleges will come up at the medical hub.
"For the past four years our pleas have remained unanswered," he said and added that Unani doctors have not been included in the National Health Mission's health and wellness programmes.
"There should be a Unani technical advisor in FDA (food and drug administration) like Ayurvedic technical advisors. Unani graduates also need to be included in ESIS (Employment State Insurance Scheme) panels," he added.
Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil of the Congress visited the protest site and expressed support to the agitating Unani doctors.
Speaking to reporters, Vikhe-Patil said if the Congress comes to power in the state, it will immediately implement the GR on jobs to Unani doctors in PHCs.
"This is a biased government and therefore, we cannot expect anything from it. However, the moment we come to power we will implement the GR," he said.
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Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024: Five key constituencies to watch
Mumbai: The Maharashtra Assembly elections have witnessed a fierce battle for power, with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance aiming to retain its position and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition striving for resurgence. As counting begins today, 23rd November 2024, 4,140 candidates are in contention for 288 seats. Among these, 234 are general-category seats, while 29 are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 25 for Scheduled Tribes. Here are five constituencies to watch closely:
1. Worli:
Milind Deora (Shiv Sena - Shinde faction), Aaditya Thackeray (Shiv Sena UBT), and Sandeep Deshpande (MNS) are contesting. Aaditya Thackeray, the incumbent, is known for his hands-on approach during the pandemic. Milind Deora, a former minister, appeals to urban voters, while Deshpande focuses on infrastructure and housing issues.
2. Baramati:
Ajit Pawar (NCP) and Yugendra Pawar (NCP - Sharad Pawar faction) are in the fray. Ajit Pawar has held this seat since 1991, while Yugendra Pawar, mentored by Sharad Pawar, is making his debut in this traditional stronghold.
3. Vandre East:
Zeeshan Siddique (NCP) and Varun Sardesai (Shiv Sena UBT) are the key contenders. Siddique is popular among young voters and the Muslim community, while Sardesai has strong ties to Shiv Sena's traditional base.
4. Nagpur South West:
Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) and Praful Gudadhe (Congress) are contesting. Fadnavis seeks his fourth consecutive term, leveraging his development initiatives, while Gudadhe may attract voters dissatisfied with urban infrastructure and public services.
5. Kopri-Pachpakhadi:
Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) and Kedar Dighe (Shiv Sena UBT) are in a tough contest. Shinde, the current chief minister, highlights his mentor Anand Dighe’s legacy, while Dighe’s nephew, Kedar, challenges him in this Thane constituency.
The election campaign saw prominent leaders, including PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, actively canvassing across the state.
