Ganderbal, Sep 8: The protest by veterinary interns at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shuhama campus, entered its second consecutive day on Tuesday, with the protesting interns pressing for an enhancement in their monthly stipend and urging the government to address their demands without further delay.
The protesting interns said they have been seeking a revision of their stipend, which they described as inadequate considering the nature of their duties, academic commitments and field responsibilities.
The protest continued at the Shuhama campus as the interns maintained that their demand was legitimate and aimed at securing financial support during their internship period.
PDP leader Iltija Mufti visited the protesting interns at the Shuhama campus and interacted with them regarding their demands.
She later spoke to reporters and extended her support to the interns, calling upon the government to initiate dialogue with them and resolve the issue at the earliest.
“It is a shame that the brightest minds of J&K, doctors and vets, are being forced to leave their duties and protest on the streets. They are not demanding anything illegal,” Mufti said.
She drew a parallel between veterinary interns and medical interns who, she said, have also been raising concerns over stipend-related issues at different institutions across Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Mufti, the interns are currently receiving around Rs 6,000 per month and are seeking an increase to Rs 23,000. She said the demand was modest considering the expenses interns have to meet while carrying out their duties.
She appealed to the Minister for Animal Husbandry, Javed Ahmad Dar, to visit the protesting interns personally and hold a dialogue with them.
Mufti maintained that she did not want to politicise the protest, saying her immediate concern was that the interns should receive justice and that the government should engage with them.
