Doru, Sept 1 (JKNS): Senior PDP leader and Incharge Assembly Constituency 41-Doru, Mohammed Ashraf Malik, has extended his support to MBBS and BDS interns protesting across Government Medical Colleges and SKIMS Bemina, demanding an immediate and substantial revision of their stipend.
Malik said it was deeply unjust that medical interns performing critical duties in emergency wards, night shifts and rural postings are being paid only ₹12,300 per month, an amount that has remained unchanged for nearly seven years. He pointed out that this amounts to roughly ₹400 a day, which is inadequate considering the nature and responsibility of their work.
“Medical interns are not merely trainees; they are an essential part of our healthcare system. They work long hours, attend emergencies and serve patients even in difficult rural postings. Paying them a stipend that does not reflect their workload and responsibilities is unfair and demoralising,” Malik said.
He further noted the wide disparity with other states, pointing out that Odisha pays its medical interns around ₹44,319 per month, while interns in Jammu and Kashmir continue to receive a significantly lower stipend.
Malik urged the J&K administration and the concerned authorities to engage with the protesting interns without delay and resolve the issue sympathetically. He supported their demand for increasing the stipend to ₹30,000 per month, saying that a dignified stipend is necessary to recognise their contribution to the healthcare system.
“Those who stand at the frontline of patient care deserve dignity, fair compensation and respect. The government must listen to our young doctors and address their genuine demands at the earliest,” Malik added. (JKNS)
