Srinagar- The 48-hour hunger strike by MBBS and BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir entered its second day on Tuesday, as the protesting interns continued their agitation seeking a hike in monthly stipend and a formal government order on the issue.
The interns, who have been protesting for over a week, are demanding an increase in their monthly stipend from ₹12,300 to ₹30,000. They have maintained that the agitation will continue until the government issues a written order on the demand.
The protest involves interns from 10 Government Medical Colleges and two dental colleges across J&K.
The interns have also cited the delay in implementing an earlier government recommendation on the issue. Government Order No. 538-JK(HME), issued in June 2023, had recommended enhancement of the stipend from the 2019 rate of ₹12,300 to ₹25,000.
The latest escalation followed a meeting between representatives of the protesting interns and the Health Minister. The interns said assurances were not sufficient and sought a formal order on the stipend enhancement.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had on Monday said the matter should have been resolved earlier and acknowledged that the continuing agitation was affecting the interns’ work and training.
The Health Minister has also appealed to the interns to resume their duties, maintaining that patient care should not be affected by the protest.
The interns, however, have continued with the 48-hour hunger strike and reiterated their demand for a written government decision on the stipend issue. [KNT]
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