This strategy by the West Bengal state government is issued as a relief and reward for the front-line workers who have been working tirelessly to combat the conundrum around the global pandemic, Covid-19.

The ministry of state health in West Bengal led by Chandrima Bhattacharya announced on Monday that their will be a provision of increase in the salaries of the doctors, stipend for the junior doctors, house-staff and the interns, who have been providing their services tirelessly to manage the crisis created by the novel coronavirus.  

The pay hike is a welcome reward and relief for the taskforce who is managing the situation at its face value and dealing with the harsh reality as they put themselves at risk every day. Bhattacharya commented that even through the state is suffering through a financial crunch, the decision of increment has been done to celebrate the selfless efforts of the frontline warriors and as “a token of appreciation and recognition for their commendable services.”

The provision of increase will be effective from January 1st of this year. Following the revision, the interns will now get a monthly stipend of Rs. 28, 050, which is an increase of Rs. 4,425. The house staff will be garnering a sum of Rs. 43,758 per month, which is Rs 5,367 more than their previous earnings. 

In accordance, post-graduate trainees in the first, second, and third years will now get monthly remunerations of Rs. 43,758, Rs. 47,124, and Rs. 50,490 respectively. The sum salaries of the first-year post-doctoral trainees will be Rs. 53,856 a month, while the second-year and third-year trainees will receive Rs. 57,222 and Rs. 60,588, respectively.

As the world continues to tackle the tyranny of the situation and scenario caused by the pandemic, the services provided by doctors, nurses and hospital staff in totality is of utmost important and highest regard. With over 9,000 cases in the country, India will soon cross the 2.5 lakh mark.