JAMMU, Aug 31: MBBS interns of Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu and associated hospitals, representing intern doctors across Jammu and Kashmir, staged a peaceful protest-cum-strike at the GMC Jammu premises, demanding an immediate revision of their monthly stipend.
The agitation, supported by BDS interns and Resident Doctors’ Associations, is part of a broader movement by intern doctors across the Union Territory. The protesting interns said their primary demand was a long-pending hike in the monthly stipend, which has remained unchanged at ₹12,300 since 2019.
The interns said that despite a sharp rise in the cost of living, including expenses related to accommodation, food, transportation and other essentials, their stipend had not been revised for nearly seven years. They pointed out that interns in several other states receive substantially higher stipends for performing similar clinical responsibilities and working comparable hours.
According to the protesting interns, stipends in some states are around Rs 43,000–Rs 44,000 per month, making the remuneration in Jammu and Kashmir significantly lower by comparison.
The interns said a government-constituted committee had earlier recommended a substantial upward revision in the stipend, but the matter continues to remain pending. They said repeated representations, memoranda and appeals had failed to produce a tangible outcome, leaving them with no option but to resort to collective action.
The protesters emphasised that they did not intend to disrupt healthcare services and acknowledged the important role interns play in government hospitals. They said interns routinely perform duties in wards, OPDs and ICUs, besides attending night duties, emergencies and other clinical responsibilities during their compulsory one-year internship.
The protesting doctors maintained that their demand was not merely financial but concerned fair compensation, dignity and recognition of the essential services rendered by interns.
They appealed to the government and concerned authorities to issue a formal order revising the stipend at the earliest and address the disparity with other states.
The interns also urged the media to highlight their grievances and bring the issue to the attention of the public and authorities, expressing hope that the ongoing agitation would lead to a meaningful resolution.