Srinagar, Sep 13: The ongoing strike by veterinary interns at SKUAST-K’s Shuhama campus entered its seventh day on Sunday, with the interns set to meet Agriculture Minister Javed Dar to press for an increase in their monthly stipend.
President of the Veterinary Association, Saqlain Rashid, said that a delegation of the interns will meet the Agriculture Minister today after he asked them to meet him and discuss their concerns.
“We will meet the Agriculture Minister along with our delegation today. We are hopeful that our issues will be addressed and that the meeting will have a fruitful outcome,” Saqlain Rashid said.
He said the interns are demanding an increase in their stipend from the existing ₹6,000 to around ₹23,000 per month, which, according to the association, is being provided to veterinary interns in several other states but not at SKUAST-K.
The interns have been pressing the authorities to revise the stipend, stating that the existing amount does not adequately meet their expenses during the internship period.
The association expressed hope that the Agriculture Minister would consider their demands and take necessary steps towards resolving the issue.
