Srinagar, January 9 (KNS): MBBS and BDS interns in Jammu and Kashmir are demanding an urgent increase in their stipends, which have remained stagnant at Rs 12,500 per month since January 2019.

Despite the formation of a government committee to address the issue over 18 months ago, the interns say their demands remain unfulfilled.

The committee, constituted under order number 538 JK-HME on June 27, 2023, recommended a 50% hike, raising the stipend to Rs 26,350.

This figure was based on half the basic pay of a medical officer, in line with National Medical Commission (NMC) norms. The report, submitted in August 2023, has been stuck in the Finance Department for over a year, leaving the interns frustrated, they said.

A delegation of interns met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on October 28, urging him to address the issue. According to the interns, the CM assured them that their demands would be prioritized and that there would be no disparity between the stipends of J&K interns and their counterparts across the country.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

However, a recent statement from the Health Minister has left many disheartened. The Minister cited financial constraints as the reason for the delay but acknowledged the legitimacy of the interns’ demands, they added.

“We work tirelessly, often performing duties equivalent to resident doctors, but our stipend is lower than what daily laborers earn,” said an intern from Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag.

The interns argue that while other states have revised stipends multiple times in recent years, J&K remains at the bottom of the scale. “Our last hike was during the Governor’s rule in 2019, and since then, we have been left behind,” said a student from GMC Baramulla.

The interns expressed hope that their stipends would be increased in the upcoming budget session. “We trust the Chief Minister’s assurances and expect the government to address this long-pending issue,” said another intern who was part of the delegation. (KNS)