Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Aug 31: MBBS interns at several government medical colleges and hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir on Monday began a coordinated protest, demanding an increase in their monthly internship stipend from the existing Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000.
According to details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the students held protest was at several GMCs, including Srinagar, Baramulla, Handwara, Anantnag, SKIMS Bemina in Kashmir, Jammu, Udhampur, Rajouri and Doda.
The protesting interns said they will refrain from joining routine duties until their demand is addressed by the authorities. “The existing stipend is inadequate keeping in view our clinical responsibilities, workload and rising living costs,” they said.
They said interns are routinely posted in emergency departments, wards, operation theatres and ICUs and assist senior doctors in patient-care services during their compulsory internship.
Resident doctors at GMC Srinagar have also extended support to the protesting interns, describing their demand for a revised stipend as justified.
Meanwhile, minister Sakina Itoo said the government has taken cognisance of the demand for increasing the monthly stipend from rs 12,000 to Rs 30,000, stating that the matter is currently under process with the Finance Department.
Speaking to reporters, Itoo said the concerned representatives had met her and, following the meeting, their file was processed and forwarded to the Finance Department for examination.
“Their demand is genuine. We are not saying that it is wrong because there is a lot of inflation these days. There is a need to increase the stipend and we also acknowledge it. The Hon’ble Chief Minister has also said so,” she said.
The Minister said the government and the health department are already working on the issue and there was no need for the employees to resort to a strike when their demand was already under consideration.
“The matter is already under process. I do not think going on strike is appropriate because it affects patient care,” Itoo said—(KNO)
