Thiruvananthapuram: Talks held by state Health Minister P K Sreemathy to settle the month-long "non-cooperation" strike by government doctors in Kerala tonight failed to break the impasse with both the sides sticking to their positions. Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA), spearheading the agitation, said it could not compromise on the key demand for revision of payscales to which the government was not willing. The government side maintained that the additional perks and special allowances announced last week were an attractive package and but said it could not go in for pay rise for a particular group of employees.
KGMOA, however, held that they could not settle for anything less than a pay revision, which was long overdue. Emerging out of the talks, KGMOA leaders told reporters that while they would continue the agitation they would ensure no inconvenience was caused to pilgrims of Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple where the "Mandala Vilakku" season was about to start. On a work-to-rule strike since last month, the doctors are attending to their hospital duties but refraining from special tasks.
