Accepting medicos’ demand to hike their monthly internship allowance, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday doubled the stipend of MBBS and BDS students in government medical colleges, institutions and medical universities across the state from ₹ 12,000 to ₹ 25,000.
The proposal was cleared at the Cabinet meeting that chief minister Yogi Adityanath chaired. This is the second hike by the Yogi government. The enhanced stipend will apply to students who have passed MBBS and BDS examinations and are undergoing compulsory rotatory internship in state-run medical institutions. The hike is seen as a step to retain talent in government hospitals and motivate interns who form the backbone of emergency and OPD services.
Earlier in 2021, the stipend was raised from ₹ 7,500 to ₹ 12,000. The state government’s decision comes against the backdrop of a recent protest by MBBS interns from several government medical colleges at King George’s Medical University on August 22 demanding an increase in their monthly stipend. Proposal to purchase 2.5 million tablets for youth cleared The UP Cabinet also gave its nod to the proposal to purchase 2.5 million (25 lakh) tablets under the Swami Vivekananda Youth Empowerment Scheme, aimed at technologically empowering the state’s youth.
Officials said during internship, medical students provide clinical support in patient care and play a crucial role in emergency services, wards, OPDs and night duties. The increased allowance will help interns meet rising expenses during their training period while ensuring better commitment towards patient care in government hospitals, officials said. Finance and parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said the decision will help technically empower skilled youth enrolled in higher education, technical education, health education, skill development training, and ITI.
