Srinagar, Aug 31: MBBS and BDS interns across Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday staged peaceful protests over their long-pending demand for an increase in their monthly stipend.
The protesting interns said their stipend has remained unchanged at around ₹12,300 per month since 2019, despite rising living costs and the workload and clinical responsibilities they undertake during their compulsory internship.
J&K Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo, meanwhile, said the interns’ demand was genuine and that a proposal for increasing their stipend was already under process.
The demand has also received support from Dr Mohammad Momin Khan of the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA), who extended solidarity with the protesting MBBS and BDS interns and urged the authorities to resolve the issue at the earliest.
“The unity of MBBS and BDS interns in raising their legitimate demand deserves attention from the concerned authorities. He urged the Jammu & Kashmir administration to take the matter seriously and initiate a dialogue with the protesting interns to resolve the issue at the earliest,” Dr Momin said.
The interns have pointed out that the Health and Medical Education Department had constituted a committee in 2023 to examine the issue of stipend enhancement. The committee subsequently recommended an increase to ₹25,000 per month.
Despite the recommendation and repeated representations by interns over the past several years, the revised stipend is yet to be implemented.
The interns have urged the government to expedite the process and issue the necessary order without further delay, besides ensuring a mechanism for regular revision of the stipend in the future.
