IIOJK medical interns’ strike for stipend hike enters third day as authorities remain indifferent
Srinagar: MBBS and BDS interns across Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continued their indefinite strike for the third consecutive day, today, demanding an increase in their monthly stipend.
According to Kashmir Media Service, hundreds of interns held sit-in demonstrations and candlelight vigils at medical institutions across the occupied territory, demanding that the existing monthly stipend of Rs 12,000 be raised to Rs 30,000.
The ongoing strike has disrupted routine hospital services at several institutions, with the interns maintaining that they will continue their agitation until their demand for a substantial enhancement is addressed.
Aaqib Ali Khan, a final-year MBBS student at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, told the media that the protest would remain peaceful until the authorities took a decision on the demand.
The agitation began on August 31 amid continued demands from interns for government intervention to restore normal hospital functioning. The protesting interns have urged the authorities to address their longstanding demand and revise the stipend in line with the duties and responsibilities assigned to them.
However, the occupation authorities have continued to show indifference towards the medical students’ demands, despite the fact that the monthly stipend had not been revised for seven years. The interns say the existing stipend fails to reflect he workload, responsibilities and long duty hours involved in compulsory internship.
