Scientists in two key sectors of national development--crop sciences and medical sciences--are currently on protest, demanding better pay scales from the Government.

While scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutes across the country are on a relay hunger strike for the past few days, the faculty of India's premier medical research institute, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), is on an indefinite strike since yesterday.

The AIIMS strike follows earlier protests marked by wearing black badges and going on a day's mass casual leave.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India's largest scientific organisation, is also not immune from strikes by agitating scientists, who have been protesting periodicallyagainst alleged nepotism and malpractices by some directors of CSIR labs.

The ICAR scientists are protesting against Government delay in implementing University Grants Commission (UGC) pay scales for them.

The National Executive Council of the Agricultural Research Service Scientists' Forum (ARSSF) met ICAR director general R S Paroda yesterday to press their demand for a revised pay package on par with UGC scales, with effect from January 1, 1996.

Scientists from Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) here, which is under ICAR, told PTI that the delay in implementing the revised pay package ``has forced the frustrated scientists to resort to protests and agitations throughout the country''.

In a letter submitted to the ICAR Chief, the ARSSF said, ``It is unfair on the part of the Government and ICAR to treat the agricultural scientists who had contributed a lot for the national food security and the dignity accrued through self-reliance on the food front, in such a shabbymanner.''

The forum says the attitude towards them is in sharp contrast to the Government's attitude towards defence scientists, who have been granted special pay benefits.

Also on strike are AIIMS faculty members who are upset over a recent Government notification on their pay scales that ignores recommendations of the recent Bakshi Committee Report on enhanced pay scales for AIIMS doctors.