Resident Doctors in Rajasthan Allege Non-Payment of HRA and Discriminatory Treatment in RajMES Colleges
Overview of the grievances raised by resident doctors
Resident doctors across Rajasthan have formally protested what they describe as ongoing financial and administrative injustices affecting non-service residents in all colleges affiliated with the Rajasthan Medical Education Society (RajMES). In statements issued by the Doctors Welfare Federation (DWF), leaders of the association outlined two primary concerns: the reported non-payment of a House Rental Allowance (HRA) to non-service resident doctors for three months, and alleged discriminatory handling of attendance and leave adjustments for students at medical colleges in Udaipur and Kota.
The DWF has framed these matters as violations of existing government directives and a source of prolonged hardship for postgraduate trainees. The federation has called on RajMES leadership and the State Government to intervene immediately to resolve pending payments and to regularise the administrative treatment of affected students.
Non-payment of HRA: what the government order says and the federation’s position
A central element of the complaint concerns a government order intended to provide additional stipend to certain resident doctors. The official text states: “Residents who are not in Government service and are not allotted hostel accommodation is allowed extra stipend of rupees 5000 per month w.e.f. 01.06.2023 subject to the conditions that extra stipend shall only be sanctioned in cases where hostel accommodation of Medical College does not remain vacant / the incumbent has not denied acceptance of the hostel accommodation allotted to them.”
According to the DWF’s National Director, Zakir Khan, the stipulated allowance — set at Rs 5,000 per month — has not been disbursed to the non-service residents across RajMES colleges despite this standing order. Dr Khan characterised the omission as “persistent injustice” and a clear violation of government directives. He warned that withholding the allowance amounts to prolonged economic exploitation of resident doctors who are already operating under demanding training schedules.
In response, the federation has urged administrative action. As reported by medichelpline, Dr Khan called on the Commissioner of RajMES, Iqbal Khan, to ensure immediate disbursement of all pending HRA payments and to issue firm instructions to RajMES that will guarantee timely, regular payment going forward.
Alleged bias against students at Udaipur and Kota medical colleges
The second major concern raised by the DWF relates to the handling of leave and attendance for resident students after a campus tragedy. Following the death of a doctor at Udaipur Medical College, resident students there staged a protest. The federation reports that the period of protest was subsequently treated as leave for resident students from some colleges — specifically Bikaner, Ajmer, and Jhalawar. However, students from RNT Medical College Udaipur and Government Medical College Kota reportedly did not receive the same adjustment, a discrepancy the DWF describes as discriminatory.
Vikas Bamnia, National President of the DWF Resident Wing, stated that the unequal treatment of Udaipur and Kota students is “completely unjust and condemnable.” He has requested that the State Government direct the respective college administrations to regularise attendance records for all resident students in Udaipur and Kota, bringing their treatment in line with that extended to other institutions.
Demands and expected administrative actions
The federation’s immediate demands are twofold: first, swift payment of pending HRA dues to non-service residents across RajMES-affiliated colleges; second, clear administrative directives to regularise attendance for the affected resident students at Udaipur and Kota medical colleges. These requests were accompanied by calls for procedures and safeguards to prevent recurrence, including routine and timely allowance disbursements and consistent application of leave and attendance policies across all RajMES institutions.
By asking the Commissioner of RajMES to act, the DWF is seeking an authoritative administrative resolution: a financial clearing of outstanding obligations and a directive that standardises future practice to comply with the government order quoted above.
Implications for trainees and medical education quality
While the federation’s statements focus on policy compliance and justice, the underlying issues have practical implications for trainee welfare and medical education. Failure to disburse allowances meant to offset accommodation costs can place additional economic strain on residents, potentially affecting morale and their capacity to focus on rigorous clinical duties. Likewise, inconsistent handling of leave and attendance after a traumatic event can fuel perceptions of unequal treatment, eroding trust between trainees and institutional leadership.
The DWF’s public appeals aim to protect both the immediate financial interests of resident doctors and the broader integrity of postgraduate training environments by seeking consistent, transparent application of rules.
Next steps and public accountability
The DWF has made its demands public and formally requested administrative action from RajMES leadership and the State Government. medichelpline has reported these developments, and the federation has called for both immediate remediation of past infractions and firm commitments to regular, timely payments and equitable administrative practices in the future.
Stakeholders — including RajMES administration, the State Government, and resident doctor representatives — will determine how quickly pending allowances are settled and whether attendance regularisation for Udaipur and Kota students will be implemented. The DWF’s intervention stresses the need for adherence to government orders and consistent treatment of all trainee doctors to safeguard financial fairness and institutional trust.