Medical interns in J&K medical colleges seek stipend hike

Srinagar, May 11: MBBS interns from medical colleges across Jammu and Kashmir have urged the J&K Government and the Health and Medical Education Department to increase their stipend, citing a committee recommendation for a reasonable hike.
A delegation of MBBS interns said they continue to struggle with a meagre monthly stipend of Rs 12,000 which is not at par with medical and dental colleges in the country.
They said earlier the government. formed a committee composed of the Director Finance H&ME Department vide order number 538 JK-HME dated 27-06-2023, that had recommended enhancement of reasonable stipend. It had submitted its report in August 2023.
Notably, the committee recommended an enhancement in stipends of interns to Rs 26,350 from Rs 12,000 based on half of the basic pay of a Medical Officer in J&K, as per the National Medical Commission (NMC) norms.
However, the interns said despite the submission of the report, the matter has been stalled in the Finance Department since January 2024 with no progress for more than a year now.
Notably, in October 2024, a delegation of such students met Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah regarding the same at Civil Secretariat Srinagar. The CM had then assured them that there would be no disparity between the interns of J&K and the rest of the country.
Medical interns said the stipend in J&K was last enhanced in January 2019, when J&K was under the Governor’s rule and till now they continue to be paid with the lowest stipends.
“Surprisingly, the stipends of interns in the rest of the country were hiked twice to thrice in the last five years leaving us to suffer,” they said.
The interns said they had high hopes that the committee’s recommendations would bring their stipends at par with their counterparts in other states. However, the prolonged delay has left them disillusioned.
“We work diligently, often putting in extra hours and performing every duty of a resident doctor, yet our compensation is lower than that of daily laborers,” said one of the interns at Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag.
Last week, a delegation of MBBS interns from various GMCs of J&K met the Deputy Chief Minister, Advisor to the Chief Minister, and Health Minister for resolution of the long-pending demand for a hike in internship stipends.
The interns presented a detailed memorandum, highlighting the urgent need to implement the revised stipend structure as recommended by the official committee.
Citing growing disparities with other Indian states and mounting financial stress, the interns appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene in the matter.
“Since the Finance Department falls under the domain of CM, we request his intervention to grant budgetary approval for stipend hike. It would bring immense relief and recognition to interns who are at the frontline of patient care,” said another member of the delegation.