Addressing a press meet, MARD spokesman Dr Rajas Deshpande said since Central parity would mean getting a salary more than that of full-time doctors (Rs 15,000 and more), residents have decided to scale down their demands.

The government had last week offered a hike of Rs 2,500 to Rs 4,000 to the junior and senior residents, who earn a stipend between Rs 4,500 and Rs 6,000 per month. However, out of the nearly 4,000 residents, only about 250 are senior, he noted. This offer was therefore rejected by MARD, which has now asked that the Fifth Pay Commission be implemented for residents so that such strikes do not recur, he added.

During each round of talks, Dr Deshpande said, the authorities have termed their offeras final and then hiked the amount in the next round. This shows the government only responds to an agitation, for it could have made these offers even before the strike began, he noted.

Resident doctors have also planned a jail bharo andolan later this week during which all 5,000 residents in the state will court arrest, Dr Deshpande said.

Meanwhile, the stir entered its second week, as full-time doctors at various public hospitals struggled to cope with the load of patients.