SRINAGAR: Medical interns from 10 Government Medical Colleges and two Dental Colleges across Jammu and Kashmir began a 48-hour hunger strike on Monday after talks with the government failed to resolve their demand for an enhanced monthly internship stipend.
The hunger strike follows a seven-day protest by the interns, who said they would continue their agitation until the government issues an official order on the stipend enhancement.
“We have not set a specific deadline. Our demand is for the government to accord financial concurrence to the proposal recommended by the Health & Medical Education Department’s committee for enhancement of the internship stipend,” Aaqib Ali Khan, a final-year MBBS student at GMC Srinagar told kashmir life.
He said the interns expected an early decision, noting that the matter had remained pending for a considerable period.
A protesting intern, Dr Faraz, said the interns had decided to launch the hunger strike to maintain pressure on the government after receiving assurances without a formal order.
“Our strike is indefinite. It will not stop until we receive an official order,” he said, adding that two to three students from each college had volunteered to participate in the hunger strike.
Dr Faraz said the stipend enhancement had been recommended in 2023 and questioned the continued delay in implementing the proposal.
He also alleged that some college administrations had attempted to intimidate protesting interns, saying they would not withdraw their agitation over such pressure.
Another intern, Dr Musharaf, said although discussions with the government had yielded some positive developments, the issue had not yet been resolved.
“Our subsequent dialogue will continue moving forward, so we will not say that it has entirely failed,” he said.
He said the interns would observe the 48-hour hunger strike before deciding their next course of action based on developments.
According to the protesting interns, MBBS interns generally work from 10 am to 6 pm and undertake night duties as assigned. Their responsibilities include patient care, emergency and outpatient department duties, attending calls, collecting and handling samples, assisting with medical procedures, maintaining records and supporting doctors and other healthcare personnel in hospital operations.
Aaqib said the interns would continue their protest peacefully if the government did not provide financial concurrence to the committee-recommended proposal.
“We hope the government will take a positive and timely decision so that the matter can be resolved through dialogue rather than prolonged protests,” he said.
