Srinagar: Depressed, dissatisfied, demoralised and discriminated against, J&K’s white-robed doctors hit the streets today in J&K to demand justice for themselves.
Medical interns across Jammu and Kashmir on Monday staged peaceful demonstrations at Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) and SKIMS Bemina, pressing the authorities to revise their internship stipend, while Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo, terming the demand genuine, said the proposal is currently under consideration of the Finance Department.
The protests involved MBBS and BDS interns, who sought a monthly stipend of Rs 30,000 and urged the administration to resolve what they described as a long-pending demand.
The demonstrations were held simultaneously at different medical institutions, underlining that the issue extends beyond any single college or hospital.
Carrying placards and banners, the interns raised slogans in support of their demand for improved remuneration. They also called for implementation of the pending Finance Committee recommendations concerning the stipend.
The protesters highlighted the nature of duties performed by interns during their clinical training, saying they remain actively involved in patient care and contribute to the functioning of healthcare institutions.
Among the demands raised during the demonstrations was “equal work, equal pay,” along with revision of the existing internship stipend and a uniform stipend structure across medical institutions in the Union Territory.
The interns said the issue had remained unresolved despite repeated representations to the authorities. They urged the administration to take a decision on the matter at the earliest and address their concerns in a time-bound manner.
The demonstrations at GMCs across J&K and SKIMS Bemina remained peaceful, with the protesting interns maintaining that their campaign was aimed at securing fair remuneration and dignified treatment for the services they provide during their internship.
Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo termed the demand genuine, saying the proposal is currently under consideration of the Finance Department.
Speaking to reporters here, Itoo said the government had already held discussions with representatives of the protesting interns before processing their demands.
“We have met them. After meeting them, we have processed their file. The file has been sent to the finance department for the financial implications. It is under process,” the minister said.
She, however, urged the interns not to resort to a strike, saying there was no need for such a step while the government was examining their demand.
The minister’s remarks came amid demonstrations by MBBS and BDS interns at various government medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir and at SKIMS Bemina over the revision of their internship stipend.
The interns have been seeking an increase in their monthly stipend to Rs 30,000, arguing that their clinical responsibilities and contribution to patient care warrant better remuneration.
According to the comparative figures displayed by the interns, Odisha tops the list with a monthly stipend of Rs 44,319, followed by West Bengal at Rs 43,099 and Assam at Rs 35,000.
Karnataka pays Rs 30,000, while Kerala offers Rs 27,300 and Delhi and Meghalaya Rs 26,300 each.
The stipend in Telangana is listed at Rs 25,900, while Arunachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh offer Rs 25,000 each. Tamil Nadu’s stipend is shown at around Rs 25,000, followed by Haryana at Rs 24,310 and Andhra Pradesh at around Rs 21,840.
Gujarat, Bihar, Goa and Himachal Pradesh are listed at around Rs 20,000 a month, while Puducherry offers Rs 18,000.
Itoo acknowledged the demand as genuine but indicated that a final decision would require examination of its financial implications before the proposal could be taken forward.
With the file now before the Finance Department, the matter has moved beyond the Health and Medical Education Department and entered the stage of financial assessment.
The government’s response comes as interns continue to press for a decision on what they have described as a long-pending issue concerning stipend revision across medical institutions in the Union Territory.
JK Cong, PDP back medical interns
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra on Monday urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene in the ongoing protest by medical interns and ensure an early and meaningful enhancement in their stipend.
Jammu and Kashmir has probably emerged as the lowest-paying region for MBBS and BDS interns among the states and Union Territories listed in a comparative chart circulated by protesting medical interns, with a monthly stipend of just Rs 12,300, prompting them to launch an indefinite strike on Monday demanding its immediate revision to Rs 30,000.
In a letter addressed to the chief minister, Karra said the demand of the protesting medical interns was genuine and deserved “sympathetic and immediate consideration”.
Medical interns constitute an essential part of the healthcare delivery system and shoulder significant responsibilities in hospitals while undergoing their compulsory internship, he said.
“These young doctors routinely work long and demanding hours, including 36-hour shifts, attending to patients and performing their duties with dedication and commitment,” Karra said.
He pointed out that the stipend being provided to medical interns in Jammu and Kashmir was considerably lower than that offered in several other parts of the country.
“When interns elsewhere are being provided better financial support for comparable responsibilities and working hours, the demand of our medical interns for a reasonable enhancement in stipend merits serious consideration,” he said.
Karra urged Omar to direct the authorities concerned to engage with the protesting interns, listen to their grievances and work towards an early and satisfactory resolution of the issue.
The Congress leader said positive government intervention at this stage would not only address a legitimate concern of the medical fraternity but also boost the morale of young doctors who contribute significantly to the functioning of hospitals and healthcare institutions.
PDP MLA from Pulwama Waheed Para also backed the protesting interns and said the government must address their demands and hike their stipend.
“Pushing the most educated youth onto the streets by refusing to listen is an unfortunate precedent to set,” he posted on X.
Para said the interns carry the weight of patients’ survival through sleepless nights and responsibilities that no salary reflects.
