Srinagar, Sep 04: A delegation of intern doctors from across Jammu and Kashmir on Friday met Health Minister Sakeena Itoo in Srinagar to discuss their long-pending demand for enhancement of the monthly internship stipend.
However, following the meeting, the protesting medical interns refused to call off their strike, which entered its fifth day on Friday. The interns have been on strike since August 31, demanding a revision of the stipend being paid to interns in medical colleges across the UT.
The delegation included Dr Tasaduk, Dr Akib, Dr Shahnawaz, Dr Faraz, Dr Danish, Dr Aiman, Dr Zamin and Dr Tanish Mansotra from Jammu, who met the Health Minister.
The delegation put forth their demands before the Minister and apprised her of the difficulties being faced by interns due to what they described as the inadequate stipend.
According to the protesting interns, the Health Minister sought one month’s time to address the issue. However, the delegation rejected the proposed timeframe and decided to continue the strike.
The interns said they would not call off their protest until the government issues a formal order announcing the enhancement of the stipend.
They maintained that their peaceful protest would continue until the proposed hike is formally approved and notified through a written Government Order.
Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, AIMSA State In-Charge, reiterated that there would be no compromise on the demand and that the protest would be called off only after the stipend hike is formally approved.
The protesting interns also expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the matter, alleging that they had repeatedly been told that the file was under process but that no concrete decision had been taken so far.
According to representations submitted by student associations, the issue dates back several years. In October 2025, the proposal for enhancement of the internship stipend was approved at the Health and Medical Education level and forwarded to the Finance Department.
The issue was also raised in the J&K Legislative Assembly in February 2026. The government had acknowledged that a committee constituted in 2023 recommended enhancement of the stipend, while the proposal was still awaiting the required financial concurrence.
Doctors’ associations and medical bodies across J&K have expressed concern over the low stipend and demanded its enhancement, describing interns as an indispensable part of the public healthcare system.
