SRINAGAR: MBBS and BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir held candlelight marches at Government Medical Colleges and SKIMS Medical College Hospital, Bemina, on Monday evening, demanding the issuance of a long-pending order for enhancement of their stipends.
The interns accused the government of failing to honour a written assurance to implement the increase within a month, saying nearly two months had passed without a formal order.
A representative of the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) told Kashmir News Observer that representatives of the interns met the Director General, Finance (Budget), and the Officer on Special Duty to the Health and Medical Education Minister at the Civil Secretariat on Monday to discuss the issue. However, the meeting did not provide clarity on when the order would be issued, the representative said.
“We were assured in writing that the stipend hike would be implemented within a month. Nearly two months have passed, but there has been no concrete progress. Every time we approach the authorities, we are given the same assurances, while the actual order remains elusive,” the representative said.
The interns expressed frustration over the delay and questioned the government’s commitment to resolving the issue. They also alleged that warnings had been issued to those pursuing the demand and complained of discourteous treatment by officials.
AIMSA president Dr Mohammad Momin Khan said interns could not be expected to wait indefinitely after receiving a written assurance from the authorities. He said the demand was for implementation of the existing commitment rather than further assurances.
The interns also raised concerns over what they described as contradictory statements about the status of the file, saying the absence of a formal government order had prolonged uncertainty.
They said discussions were underway on their future course of action and described the candlelight marches as a peaceful effort to draw attention to the demand. They urged the government to honour its written assurance and issue the stipend enhancement order without further delay, warning that continued inaction could lead to an intensification of their peaceful protest.
