Ganderbal, Sep 10: PDP MLA Budgam Agha Muntazir Mehdi on Thursday backed protesting veterinary interns at SKUAST-K’s Shuhama campus, urging the government to enhance their stipend and ensure parity with interns elsewhere in the country.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to the protesting interns, Mehdi said it was unfortunate that members of the medical fraternity, including veterinary and medical doctors, were being forced to take to the streets to seek what he described as their legitimate rights.
“The way they are performing their duties, whether in hospitals or clinics, the remuneration they are getting is very less,” he said, adding that veterinary interns should receive the same kind of internship benefits as those available to students elsewhere in the country.
The veterinary interns have been protesting at the Shuhama campus for the past four days, demanding an increase in their stipend and urging the government, particularly Agriculture Minister Javed Dar, to intervene in the matter.
Mehdi said he had visited the protesting interns to hear their concerns directly and take up their demands with the government.
Highlighting the nature of veterinary work, Mehdi said interns and veterinary professionals face considerable risks while dealing with animals and diseases that can potentially affect human beings.
He questioned the adequacy of the existing stipend, saying that a monthly payment of around ₹6,000 was not commensurate with the responsibilities and risks involved in their work.
“Animals are also vectors of diseases. They stop those vectors and protect society from diseases,” he said, arguing that the role of veterinary professionals was an important component of public health.
