JAMMU, Sep 2: On the directions of J&K Pradesh Congress Committee President Tariq Hameed Karra, former J&K Minister and President DCC Jammu Urban Yogesh Sawhney, along with President DCC Jammu Rural Th. Manmohan Singh and Neeraj Kundan, today visited medical interns staging a protest demanding enhancement of their stipend.
The Congress leaders interacted with the protesting interns, listened to their concerns and expressed solidarity with their ongoing struggle. During the visit, the delegation also handed over a letter addressed by the J&K Congress to the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, urging immediate government intervention and appropriate measures for enhancement of the stipend being paid to medical interns.
Addressing the interns, Yogesh Sawhney said their demand for an enhanced stipend was genuine and deserved immediate consideration. He maintained that medical interns are an important part of the healthcare delivery system and contribute substantially to patient care, particularly in government hospitals, where they work for long hours and shoulder significant responsibilities.
“These young doctors are not merely seeking a financial benefit; they are asking for recognition of the work and responsibilities they undertake during their internship. At a time when the cost of living has increased considerably, the existing stipend needs to be reviewed realistically so that it is commensurate with their workload and responsibilities,” Sawhney said.
He urged the administration to engage with representatives of the interns and find an early solution instead of allowing the protest to continue. He assured the interns that Congress, under the guidance of Tariq Hameed Karra, would continue to raise their concerns at every appropriate forum.
Neeraj Kundan said medical interns have every right to seek a fair and reasonable stipend for the work they perform. He noted that internship is a crucial phase in a medical graduate’s career, involving clinical responsibilities and direct contribution to healthcare institutions.
“They work alongside senior doctors, attend to patients, perform duties in hospitals and remain available for long hours. Their contribution cannot be overlooked, and their stipend must reflect the responsibilities they are expected to shoulder,” Kundan said.
Kundan assured the interns of Congress support in their peaceful and democratic struggle and urged the government to initiate dialogue and resolve the issue through a time-bound process.
Kanta Bhan, Varinder Manhas, Sat Pal Sapolia, Sohit Sharma, Suman Wazir, Jatinder Chib, former Corporators Ritu Choudhary and Vijay Malhotra, Aasha Chandan, Rajesh Sharma, Happy Randhawa and others were also present.