Srinagar, July 29: The MBBS interns of Government Medical College Baramulla and Rajouri have appealed to the Health and Medical Education Department to enhance their stipend at par with the medical colleges in the country.
The interns stated that in July 2021, the Union Health Ministry increased the stipend for interns at various medical colleges across the country, prompting them to demand the same.
A delegation of MBBS interns from GMC Baramulla said their stipend of interns J&K is currently amongst the lowest in the country at an average of 400 per day (12,300 per month).
“Today even the highly skilled workers make on a job like construction of roads and buildings are entitled to a daily wage of 876 as per the order dated 12-08-2022 of Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India,” they said.
The MBBS interns said that despite assurances of their justified demand nothing has been done so far in this direction, with the result all the interns are unable to meet their expenses.
“The West Bengal Govt. pays Rs 28,050 per month as stipend to interns as per order issued by the Govt. of West Bengal, Department of Health & Family Welfare. But our stipend is still the same in Jammu and Kashmir medical Colleges,” they said.
The delegation said intern doctors are expected to support their family and present amount of stipend financially is the lowest amongst the other colleges and institutions.
They state that the interns are the backbone of the Medical Colleges and frequently work on day and night duty i.e. 24-hour shift and work at par with the other staff.
Similarly, the MBBS interns of GMC Rajouri have also been demanding a hike in their monthly stipend. They said that the matter has been taken up with the Jammu and Kashmir Government for hike in the amount but only false assurances were given.
They appealed to the government, highlighting that during a period of rising prices, they are struggling to meet their basic needs. They urged the department to develop and implement a concrete policy to address their concerns.
Notably, in June 2023, the health department had constituted a committee of officers to work out the financial implication for reasonable enhancement of stipend in favour of MBBS/BDS interns in different Government Medical/Dental Colleges of Jammu & Kashmir.
The committee was then comprised of Director Finance, H&ME Department, Principal, Govt. Medical College, Jammu/Srinagar, Director (Coordination), New Govt. Medical Colleges, Principal, Govt. Dental College Jammu/Srinagar.
However, the MBBS interns said that the Finance Department is delaying the process and raising irrelevant queries rather than finding a comprehensive solution.
They appealed to the Secretary Health and Medical Education, Jammu and Kashmir to intervene in the matter and do the needful for which the interns have been waiting for.
They said in 2021, the Ministry of health approved revised rate of stipend to the MBBS interns borne on the authorized strength of the Central Government institutions under the control of the Ministry to Rs 26,300 per month.
