Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
MBBS and BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir have warned of resuming their indefinite strike from October 19 if the government fails to issue an order revising their monthly stipend by the end of this week.
The decision was conveyed to Health Minister Sakina Itoo during a meeting with a delegation of interns at the Civil Secretariat on Monday, following the expiry of the government’s previous written assurance on October 9.
According to a statement issued by the interns’ representatives, the minister cited administrative delays, including a change of secretary and the intervening Assembly session, while assuring them that the revision order would be issued within the week.
The interns said they had given the government sufficient time to address their demand but warned that failure to meet the latest deadline would leave them with no option but to resume their agitation.
The interns are demanding an increase in their monthly stipend from Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000. They said the existing amount had remained unchanged since 2019 and maintained that interns in several other states receive higher stipends.
Dr Mohammad Akib Javid, joint secretary of the All India Medical Students’ Association (AIMSA) and a representative of J&K interns, said the latest assurance would be given time until the end of the week.
The representatives warned that any further delay in issuing the order would undermine confidence in the government’s commitments, adding that the issue now concerned accountability as well as the long-pending demand for a stipend revision.
The interns said they would decide on the next course of action if the government failed to fulfil its assurance within the stipulated period.
