SRINAGAR: CPI(M) leader and Kulgam MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Tuesday expressed support for the ongoing protest by MBBS and BDS interns in Jammu and Kashmir and called on the government to revise their monthly stipend, which he said has remained unchanged at ₹12,300 since 2019.
Medical interns at SKIMS Bemina, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, GMC Jammu, GMC Anantnag and GMC Baramulla have been on an indefinite strike since August 31, demanding an increase in the stipend to ₹30,000 per month.
In a statement, Tarigami described the demand as reasonable and said medical interns perform critical duties in hospitals, including emergency services and extended work shifts.
He said a committee constituted by the Health and Medical Education Department in 2023 had recommended increasing the stipend to around ₹25,000, but no formal decision had been taken on the proposal so far.
Tarigami also raised the issue of disparities in stipend levels, claiming that interns in Jammu and Kashmir receive significantly lower payments than their counterparts in several other states despite performing similar duties.
The CPI(M) leader urged the Health and Medical Education Department and the administration to address the issue without delay and issue orders regarding stipend revision.
He also cautioned that a prolonged impasse could affect healthcare services in government hospitals across the Union Territory.
