Srinagar, Jan 10: MBBS and BDS interns in Jammu and Kashmir continue to struggle with a meagre monthly stipend, despite a committee’s recommendations for a reasonable stipend enhancement made nearly a year and a half ago to address the issue.
A delegation of MBBS and BDS interns said they get a monthly stipend of Rs 12,500.
They said the earlier government had formed a committee vide order number 538 JK-HME dated 27-06-2023, that had recommended enhancement of reasonable stipend.
The committee comprised the Director Finance H&ME Department; Principals of Government Medical Colleges in Jammu and Srinagar; Director (Coordination) of New Government Medical Colleges; and Principals of Dental Colleges in Jammu and Srinagar, which had submitted its report in August 2023.
“The committee has recommended enhancement in stipends of interns to Rs 26,350 from 12,300 based on the half of the basic pay of a Medical Officer in J&K, as per the NMC norms,” the interns said.
They said however, despite the submission of the report, the matter has been stalled in the Finance Department 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.
They said that the recent statement of the Health Minister has saddened the interns by stating that the government’s financial constraints are preventing the immediate resolution of the interns’ demands adding the issue was under consideration.
They said the stipend of interns 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 a student of Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag.
Students at GMC Baramulla also expressed their concern over the inaction of the committee recommendations. “The prolonged delay has plunged us into despair,” said a student.
He added that they hoped the new government would look into the matter and enhance their stipends in the upcoming budget session.
The interns expressed hope following assurances from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during their meeting in October as he has assured them that their demands would be addressed soon, possibly in the upcoming budget as per the students.
