Srinagar, Sep 7: Jammu and Kashmir’s medical interns on Monday intensified their agitation over the unresolved stipend issue, with protesting interns beginning a hunger strike as their demand for enhanced monthly stipends remained unaddressed.
The medical interns said in view of the continued failure of deliberations with the administration in addressing the legitimate demands, interns of MBBS batch 2021 at SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, have resorted to hunger strike from Monday and intensified their ongoing peaceful protest.
“This decision has been taken only after repeated rounds of discussions, representations, and assurances failed to result in issuance of a formal written executive order, prospective in nature, concerning the revision of the internship stipend,” the interns said.
The MBBS and BDS interns said verbal assurances can’t substitute for a formal and binding administrative decision duly communicated through an appropriate written executive order.
“The intern doctors remain steadfast in their demand for justice, dignity, and fair compensation, commensurate with the responsibilities, duties, and services rendered by them,” they stated.
The protesting interns said in a statement that the hunger strike, commencing from Sep 7 shall continue until the concerned authorities issue a formal written executive order.
“We appeal the administration, and all concerned authorities to take immediate cognizance of the matter and bring the present stir to an end by issuing a written executive order,” they said.
They also clarified that their ongoing movement is completely ‘apolitical’ and is driven solely by their long-pending demand for enhancement of stipend.
“We have no political agenda and are not aligned with any political party. Our struggle is a professional and welfare-related issue concerning thousands of present and future intern doctors across Jammu and Kashmir,” they said.
The interns expressed concern over what they described as attempts to pressure them into resuming duties through communications conveyed via Principals of GMC and GDCs.
They urged the government to refrain from intimidating or pressurising college administrations and instead address the issue through constructive engagement and dialogue.
They said they are open to talks at all times and believe that a mutually acceptable resolution can be achieved through continued engagement with the government.
The protesting intern doctors appealed to all stakeholders not to politicise the issue and expressed hope that the government would address the matter through a written order at the earliest, thereby bringing an amicable resolution to the ongoing protest.
Meanwhile, the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA), a national association representing resident doctors and medical interns across the country, in a letter addressed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, said the current stipend of 12,300 per month is among the lowest in the country and has remained unchanged for nearly seven years.
It demanded implementation of the recommendations already made by the competent committee, rather than subjecting the interns to further prolonged uncertainty.
