The MBBS interns working in various government hospitals of Jammu and Kashmir have announced to go for an indefinite strike from August 31 if government doesn’t increase their monthly stipends which the doctors say are the ‘lowest in the country’.
But seven months down the line, there has been no increase in the stipends of the doctors. “The government has itself recommended the enhancement in stipend but there is no action. This is sheer injustice with us.
The National Conference government in February had informed the legislative assembly that it has recommended enhancing the stipend from the existing ₹ 12,300 to ₹ 25,000 per month. If this is not resolved, then we have decided to collectively go on strike from August 31,” said another protesting doctor. In February, in response to questions of legislators Salman Sagar and Sunil Kumar Sharma in J&K Assembly, the incharge minister of health and medical education (HME), had said that the committee constituted on the issue on 27, June 2023 under the chairmanship of director finance, HME, has recommended an enhancement of the existing stipend from ₹ 12,300 per month to 25,000 per month in favour of the MBBS and BDS internees. Inam Un Nabi said it was unfortunate that a matter examined by a government-appointed committee in 2023 continues to remain unresolved.
Zamin Javed, a doctor, said that the issue was pending for the past seven years. Another doctor said that interns give much higher duty hours than normal government employees. The doctors said that they approached the chief minister and health minister with their grievances but there was no action. The minister said that the Finance Department has, however, sought additional information and clarifications on multiple occasions.
