Bengaluru : The State government has hiked the monthly special allowance for medical doctors working in its hospitals coming under the State Health and Family Welfare Department, Health Minister U T Khader said on Tuesday.

Making a suo motu announcement in the Legislative Assembly, he said the government’s move was aimed at attracting doctors to work in government hospitals. The doctors, particularly specialists, are shying away from joining the government service due to low pay. Hence, it has been decided to increase the special allowance, including emergency allowance, with effect from July 6, 2015, he added.

The quantum of hike varies, depending on the qualification and the number of years of service. With this, the monthly pay of government doctors has increased by Rs 59,989 (MBBS doctors) to Rs 1,19,319 (super specialty doctors). The new package will help in solving the problem of shortage of doctors and provide effective health services to people from rural areas, Khader said.

However, the hike does not apply to Ayurveda doctors. But the government will look into the possibility of extending the benefit to them in the coming days, he said.

BJP member C T Ravi suggested that hike be extended to Ayurveda doctors also.

The house rent allowance (HRA) of the State government employees working in Kalaburagi, Belagavi and Mangaluru city corporation limits has gone up from 10 per cent to 20 per cent with effect from April 1, 2015. A government order to this effect was issued on Tuesday.

The HRA has been increased in these cities following the State government’s decision to reclassify cities and town as A (above 25 lakh population), B (5 lakh to 25 lakh) and C (less than 5 lakh) cities and towns in the State based on their population.
The three cities have now been brought under category B. There is no change in the HRA for those working in Bengaluru.

The break-up

Service         Qualification              MBBS/BDS PG/Dip        Super speciality
0 – 6 years        16,000 to 21,000      17,600 to 42,600               20,800 to 50,800
6 – 13                17,000 to 22,000      18,700 to 43,700               22,100 to 52,100
13 – 20              18,000 to 23,000      19,800 to 44,800              23,400 to 58,400
20 and above 18,000 to 23,000       19,800 to 44,800             23,400 to 58,400
all figures in rupees