J&K MBBS, BDS Interns to Begin Indefinite Strike From Aug 31 Over Stipend Hike Delay

Srinagar, Aug 28: J&K medical interns, including MBBS and BDS interns working across government medical colleges, will begin an indefinite strike from August 31, protesting the prolonged delay in the J&K stipend revision.The MBBS interns and BDS interns currently receive around Rs 12,000 per month, which they say is among the lowest stipends for medical interns in India. The stipend hike proposal has been pending with the J&K Finance Department, despite earlier recommendations for an increase.The J&K interns strike will be observed at their respective medical colleges, with interns suspending work over the delayed stipend hike, demanding duty-hour considerations and better remuneration.The Resident Doctors Association (RDA), GMC Doda, has also expressed concern over the delay in revising the monthly stipend for medical interns in Jammu and Kashmir. It pointed to the Uttar Pradesh Government’s recent decision to raise the medical intern stipend to Rs 30,000 per month.A committee constituted by the J&K Government in 2023 had recommended increasing the MBBS and BDS intern stipend from Rs 12,000 to Rs 25,000 per month. Despite the recommendation, the J&K stipend revision remains pending.The interns said their stipend was last enhanced in January 2019, when it was increased from Rs 4,800 to around Rs 12,300. They said the amount has remained unchanged for years despite inflation and rising living costs.The issue has been raised repeatedly with the J&K Health Department. In October 2024, the interns met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar and said they were assured there would be no disparity between J&K medical interns and interns in other states.Meanwhile, Sahil Maqbool, Joint Secretary, IMA-MSN J&K and representative of JKMSA, said the medical interns’ stipend issue had been repeatedly raised with the government, but no concrete decision had been taken so far.The interns have urged Omar Abdullah and Health Minister Sakina Itoo to intervene and ensure an early J&K medical stipend hike in line with national standards.