Srinagar: MBBS and BDS interns in Jammu and Kashmir have urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to fulfill their long-standing demand for a stipend increase during the upcoming budget session.
Despite a committee’s recommendation over a year ago to raise their monthly stipends from Rs 12,300 to Rs 26,350, the issue remains unresolved, leaving interns frustrated and disheartened, said the interns, in a statement.
In June 2023, the Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department formed a committee to review and recommend improvements to the stipends of medical and dental interns in the region.
The committee, which included senior officials like the Director Finance of the H&ME, and the Principals of Government Medical Colleges in Jammu and Srinagar, submitted its report in August 2023.
The report recommended increasing the stipend in line with the National Medical Commission (NMC) norms, proposing an amount based on half of the basic pay of a Medical Officer in the state, which would have raised the stipend to Rs 26,350, they said.
However, despite the committee’s work and its recommendation, the matter has been stalled in the Finance Department for over a year with no concrete progress.
A delegation of MBBS and BDS interns met with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on October 28, 2024, at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar to discuss the delay. The CM assured the interns that their demands would be prioritized, and steps would be taken to ensure that there is no disparity between J&K’s interns and their counterparts across the country.
Interns, as per the statement, have expressed frustration over the prolonged delay. The last stipend hike came in January 2019, under Governor’s Rule, and since then, J&K interns have received the lowest stipends in the country.
“We work tirelessly, often clocking long hours and performing the same duties as resident doctors, yet our stipend is embarrassingly low. It feels like we are being undervalued,” said a student from Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag, as per the statement.
Interns at GMC Baramulla echoed similar sentiments. “We were hopeful when the committee’s report came out, but the delay has caused deep frustration. Our expectations were high, but now we fear this issue will be sidelined once again,” said a student from the college.
Despite their disappointment, the interns remain hopeful, especially after receiving assurances from CM Omar Abdullah. “We hope that the upcoming budget will bring good news for us,” said one of the interns who met with the Chief Minister. “The CM assured us that our demands would be addressed soon, and we believe the budget session is our best chance for a positive outcome.”
