File sent to Finance deptt, matter under process: Sakeena
Srinagar, Aug 31: MBBS and BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir on Monday held peaceful demonstrations demanding an increase in their internship stipend, bringing the issue to the government’s attention as Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo said the matter was already under process.
Protests were held at Government Medical Colleges across the Union Territory and at SKIMS Bemina, with interns urging the administration to take an early decision on what they described as a long-pending demand.
The interns said the existing stipend was inadequate considering the long working hours, clinical responsibilities and workload involved during the compulsory internship period.
“We are working for long hours and handling significant responsibilities in hospitals. The stipend should be revised in keeping with the work we are doing and the rising cost of living,” a protesting intern said.
Another intern said the demand had been raised repeatedly with the authorities.
“Internship is compulsory for every medical graduate, and we are contributing to patient care throughout this period. We only want the government to recognise our work and revise the stipend on reasonable lines,” the intern said.
Addressing reporters, the Health and Education Minister Sakeena Itoo acknowledged the interns’ demand and said the government did not consider it unjustified. “It is okay, it is their genuine demand. We do not say that it is wrong. Because these days there is a lot of inflation. There is a need to increase it. We ourselves agree,” she said.
The minister said the Health and Medical Education Department had already taken up the matter with the protesting interns and processed the proposal.
“We have met them. After meeting them, we have processed their file. The file has been sent to the Finance Department for the financial implications. It is under process,” Itoo said.
She added that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was also aware of the demand and had favoured addressing the issue.
“The Chief Minister has also said this. The government is already working on this. The Health Department is already working on this,” she said.
While assuring that the matter was being considered, Itoo appealed to the interns to avoid strikes, saying any disruption in hospital services could affect patients.
“They did not need to go on strike. It is under process without it. I do not think it is right to go on strike. It affects their patient care,” the minister said.
The interns, meanwhile, maintained that their demonstrations were peaceful and said they would continue to pursue the demand through democratic means. The protests have put renewed focus on the remuneration of medical and dental interns in J&K, with the interns now awaiting the Finance Department’s assessment and the government’s final decision on the proposed stipend revision.
