Srinagar: The standoff between Jammu and Kashmir’s medical interns and the government is refusing to die down, even though Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday approved a doubling of their monthly stipend. By Wednesday morning, MBBS and BDS interns across government medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir, along with SKIMS Medical College in Bemina, were still on an indefinite strike. Their demand is down to one line now: give us a written order.
What the Chief Minister approved
On Tuesday, October 20, the Chief Minister cleared the long-pending proposal to raise the monthly stipend of MBBS and BDS interns from Rs 12,300 to Rs 25,000. The Health and Medical Education Department has been directed to issue the necessary orders immediately.
- Monthly increase: Rs 12,700 more in every intern’s pocket
- Percentage jump: a little over 103 per cent on the existing stipend
- Annual effect: an intern drawing the revised stipend for a full year would earn Rs 3 lakh, against Rs 1,47,600 earlier
- Who is covered: MBBS and BDS interns at government medical colleges across Jammu and Kashmir and SKIMS
The move came after the Health and Medical Education Minister, Sakina Itoo, backed the proposal. The interns had been demanding a hike to Rs 30,000; what the government has approved is Rs 25,000.
Why the strike continues despite the hike
The interns are not questioning the Chief Minister’s decision. They are questioning whether it will ever reach them on paper. On Tuesday evening, no formal order had been issued. Officials said a public holiday had delayed the notification and that it would most probably be issued on Wednesday.
That explanation has not calmed the interns, because they have been here before. Earlier, they had walked out over the same demand and called off their agitation in September, after the government gave a written assurance that the matter would be settled within 30 days. That deadline expired on October 8. Forty-two days after the assurance was given, no order had been issued. So on Tuesday morning, the interns resumed their indefinite strike.
“The 30-day period, it was actually they who asked us for a 30-day timeframe. Even back then, we demanded an order, and today as well, we are demanding an order. Back then, we negotiated based on trust,” medical intern Dr Faraz Ahmad told news agency PTI.
“No written order, no end to the strike”
The All India Medical Students’ Association (AIMSA) has made its position unambiguous. Its president, Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, said the interns would not call off the protest on the basis of verbal assurances or announcements, and that the agitation would continue until the government formally notified its decision.
The interns’ J&K representative and AIMSA joint secretary, Dr Mohammad Akib Javid, thanked the Chief Minister for approving the enhancement but said the indefinite strike would continue until the official order was issued and made public. He said the interns had been informed that the order could not be issued on Tuesday because of the holiday and was expected on Wednesday.
On Tuesday evening, the striking interns held candle marches at government medical colleges across the Union Territory, signalling that the agitation would stay peaceful but firm. The Congress, an ally of the National Conference government, has backed the interns’ position.
What happens next
The ball is now in the Health and Medical Education Department’s court. A senior officer said the file, approved by the Chief Minister, had been forwarded to the department for completion of formalities and that the order was likely to be issued on Wednesday. The interns say the moment the written order is issued, they will return to duty.
Why this matters
Interns work long hours in emergency wards, operation theatres and outpatient departments, often as the first point of contact for patients. The J&K episode is a reminder that how young doctors are treated during this formative year shapes how they view the profession for years to come. The approval is a significant step, but in the protestors’ eyes, an announcement is only half a promise. The other half is ink on paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new stipend for medical interns in J&K?
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has approved raising the monthly stipend of MBBS and BDS interns from Rs 12,300 to Rs 25,000, an increase of Rs 12,700 per month.
Why are the interns still on strike if the hike is approved?
The interns want a formal written government order. A written assurance given on September 8, promising resolution within 30 days, was not implemented even after 42 days, so they are insisting on seeing the official notification before returning to duty.
When will the written order be issued?
The Health and Medical Education Department is expected to issue the notification on Wednesday, October 21. Officials said a public holiday on Tuesday had delayed the issuance.
Who is leading the protest?
The agitation is being led by the All India Medical Students’ Association (AIMSA). Its president is Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, and the J&K interns’ representative is Dr Mohammad Akib Javid.
What were the interns originally demanding?
The interns had demanded an increase in their monthly stipend to Rs 30,000. The government has approved Rs 25,000, which the interns have welcomed while continuing the strike for the written order.
Informeia will track this story and update readers as soon as the formal notification is issued.
