SRINAGAR: Intern doctors of the 2021 MBBS batch at SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, began a hunger strike on Monday over their demand for revision of the internship stipend, saying they will continue the protest until the government issues a formal written order.
The interns said the decision followed several rounds of discussions and assurances with the administration that, according to them, had not resulted in a written order on the stipend issue.
In a statement announcing the escalation, the protesting doctors said they were no longer willing to rely on verbal assurances and demanded that the authorities formally notify the decision and expedite the process.
The interns have been part of a wider agitation by MBBS and BDS interns in Jammu and Kashmir seeking an increase in the monthly internship stipend to Rs 30,000.
The SKIMS Bemina interns said their demand concerned fair compensation for the duties and responsibilities carried out by intern doctors and appealed to the administration and other concerned authorities to intervene and resolve the issue.
They said the hunger strike was aimed at securing an early resolution while keeping channels of dialogue open, but made it clear that they would not call off the protest solely on the basis of further assurances.
interns said their position remained: “No Written Order — No End to the Protest.”
