MUMBAI, Dec. 23 -- The Central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (Central MARD) has announced plans to protest against the Maharashtra Directorate of Medical Education and Research's (DMER) decision to discontinue inter-district transfers for postgraduate medical students under the three-month District Residency Programme (DRP). The body has called the move "rigid" and insensitive to genuine difficulties faced by resident doctors. DMER issued the circular barring inter-district transfers on December 19. "Inter-district transfer under the District Residency Programme (for any reason) is hereby discontinued." The DRP, mandated by the National Medical Commission (NMC), requires postgraduate (MD/MS) students to undergo district-level training as part of their academic curriculum. The directive applies to all government and municipal medical colleges in Maharashtra and has come into effect immediately. Upset MARD representatives said they had raised several concerns during a meeting with DMER officials held on December 16, days before the circular was issued. "We clearly told the directorate that many resident doctors require inter-district transfers due to family responsibilities, health issues or other circumstances," said Sachin Patil, president of Central MARD. "We specifically raised the issue that civil surgeons and authorities at district hospitals often delayed or refused to give NOCs simply because they do not want to relieve doctors. This would leave residents stuck for weeks, sometimes months." Central MARD said it has already approached DMER, urging the directorate to revoke or modify the circular. DMER officials did not respond to calls or texts from HT....