Srinagar, Oct 20: The All India Medical Students’ Association (AIMSA) and MBBS/BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir have resumed their strike and announced candle marches tonight at all Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) and SKIMS Bemina over the continued delay in implementing the long-pending stipend hike.
The decision follows the alleged failure of the government to honour its written assurance issued on September 8, under which interns were asked to wait for 30 days. On October 12, an AIMSA delegation again met the authorities, when OSD Peerzada Zahoor Ahmad reportedly sought another week to resolve the matter. However, on October 19, a delegation once again visited the Secretariat and met the Director General of Finance, but the issue remained unresolved.
According to Dr Tasaduk, Joint Secretary AIMSA, the delegation was subjected to humiliating remarks during its interaction with the OSD, who reportedly stated that the government was doing interns a favour by providing free medical education. AIMSA strongly objected to the alleged remarks, asserting that public expenditure is funded by taxpayers and that interns’ legitimate demands deserve respectful consideration.
Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, President AIMSA, said, “We respect every officer and every institution, but we will not tolerate rude or humiliating behaviour towards medical interns. A written assurance, 30 days of waiting, another week of patience and repeated meetings have still not resulted in an implementation order. If the file regarding the stipend hike is ready, release the order without further delay. Interns deserve dignity, transparency and justice—not endless assurances.”
AIMSA reiterated that the protest concerns the legitimate demand for a stipend hike for MBBS and BDS interns in Jammu and Kashmir. Candle marches will be held tonight across GMCs and SKIMS Bemina, while the association has called upon the government to honour its written commitment and resolve the issue immediately.
