Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) began a statewide strike on Thursday, raising multiple demands, including the payment of pending arrears and rectification of anomalies in salaries. The strike has severely affected the functioning of government medical colleges across the state.

Except for emergency, casualty, and labour room services, all other departments and classes for medical students were disrupted due to the protest. The KGMCTA said that, apart from critical surgeries, all other scheduled operations have been postponed.

The association members said the strike had been announced a week ago and that discussions with Health Minister Veena George had failed to yield results, forcing them to proceed with the agitation.

Their key demands include the creation of additional posts and the immediate filling of vacancies for assistant professor positions in government medical colleges. The association has also urged the government not to transfer teachers on a work arrangement basis, citing severe staff shortages.

Other major demands include payment of pending arrears following the 2020 pay revision and correction of salary anomalies. The KGMCTA warned that the protest would be intensified if the government failed to address their demands promptly.