Medical interns across Jammu and Kashmir have commenced an indefinite strike, demanding a significant increase in their monthly stipend. The MBBS and BDS interns, who are currently receiving Rs 12,300 per month, are seeking an enhancement to Rs 30,000. This protest has garnered widespread support from various opposition parties in the region, who have voiced solidarity with the interns’ demands and urged the administration to address the issue urgently.
The protesting interns highlighted that their stipend has remained stagnant for approximately seven years, despite numerous representations and demonstrations. They contend that the current remuneration, which equates to roughly Rs 400 daily, is substantially lower than the stipends provided to medical interns in numerous other Indian states. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that this disparity has become a major point of contention, leading to the current industrial action.
On Tuesday, PDP leader Iltija Mufti joined the striking interns at the Government Medical College (GMC) in Srinagar, expressing her full support for their cause. Mufti stated that it is deeply concerning that medical interns in Jammu and Kashmir are among the lowest paid in the country. She called upon the Jammu and Kashmir administration to initiate immediate and meaningful dialogue with the protesting interns, resolve their grievances, and enhance their stipend to Rs 30,000 without further delay. A spokesperson for the PDP further emphasized that the government must also ensure reasonable working conditions, adequate leave, and basic protections for interns, commensurate with the demanding nature of their services. The spokesperson added that young doctors serving in government hospitals cannot be expected to endure 12 to 48-hour shifts without sufficient holidays or benefits, while receiving one of the lowest stipends nationally. The demand, the PDP spokesperson asserted, is legitimate and requires an urgent and sensitive response from the government.
Several other political parties have also publicly declared their support for the protesting interns. The party of jailed MP Engineer Rashid expressed its deep regret that an issue previously examined by a government-appointed committee in 2023 remains unresolved. Inam Un Nabi, chief spokesperson for the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), questioned the prolonged delay in implementing the committee’s recommendations, stating that if the government itself had constituted a committee and received its findings, there must be a clear reason for the continued wait. He appealed to the administration to engage with the interns promptly and resolve the matter through a time-bound decision. J&K Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari commented that the young MBBS and BDS interns should not have been forced to protest to secure a fair and adequate increase in their internship stipend. He asserted that they deserve the same stipend as their counterparts in other parts of the country who perform similar clinical duties, deeming their demand genuine, reasonable, and fully justified.
The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also extended its support to the MBBS interns, urging the Chief Minister and the Health Minister to personally intervene and resolve the issue. Party spokesperson Dr. Tahir Chowdhary stated in a release that the BJP stands firmly with the young doctors and that the government must act with sensitivity and urgency. He emphasized that equal responsibility warrants fair compensation, and the young doctors of J&K deserve dignity, justice, and a stipend comparable to their peers in other states and Union Territories. Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo, meanwhile, acknowledged the legitimacy of the interns’ demand and indicated that the government is already working on the issue. She appealed to the interns to reconsider their strike, warning that any disruption in services could adversely affect patient care.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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