Protest and Appeal
Medical interns in Jammu and Kashmir have launched an indefinite strike and are staging a sit-in, demanding that their monthly stipend be raised from Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000. On Monday, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene and ensure an early and meaningful enhancement in their stipend.
In a letter addressed to the chief minister, Karra said the interns' demand was genuine and deserved "sympathetic and immediate consideration." He described medical interns as an essential part of the healthcare delivery system who shoulder significant responsibilities in hospitals during their compulsory internship.
"These young doctors routinely work long and demanding hours, including 36-hour shifts, attending to patients and performing their duties with dedication and commitment," Karra said.
Karra noted that the stipend in Jammu and Kashmir was considerably lower than that offered in several other parts of the country. "When interns elsewhere are being provided better financial support for comparable responsibilities and working hours, the demand of our medical interns for a reasonable enhancement in stipend merits serious consideration," he said.
The Congress leader urged the chief minister to direct authorities to engage with the protesting interns, listen to their grievances, and work towards a satisfactory resolution. He said positive government intervention at this stage would address a legitimate concern and boost the morale of young doctors who contribute significantly to the functioning of hospitals.
Interns' Grievances
Protesting interns, including Dr Shahnawaz and Dr Abhinav Bhat, have been vocal about their conditions. Dr Shahnawaz claimed that despite performing regular duties and handling a substantial workload, interns receive only Rs 12,300 a month, while in several states stipends range from Rs 30,000 to Rs 45,000 or more. "This is unjust," he said.
The interns have highlighted that their stipend has remained unchanged for nearly seven years, failing to keep pace with inflation and the workload in government medical colleges. They are demanding a written order from the government, not merely a verbal assurance.
Dr Bhat said a committee constituted by the Health and Medical Education Department in 2023 had recommended enhancement of the stipend to around Rs 25,000 for 2025-26. "Subsequently, the issue was raised in the 2026 Assembly session and the proposed stipend was mentioned as around Rs 26,300. But despite this, the file is still pending," he said.
Dr Bhat alleged that interns have been unable to get a clear response about the status of the file, with officials directing them to different departments. "Sometimes we are told the file has been forwarded to the chief minister, while at other times we are told it is with the Finance Department. We are being made to run from one office to another," he said.
"We are on an indefinite strike and will continue until our demand is fulfilled. We want a written order, not merely an assurance," he added.
Comparison with Other States
A comparative chart circulated by the protesting interns places Jammu and Kashmir at the bottom of the list of stipends paid across states and Union Territories. According to the figures, Odisha tops the list with a monthly stipend of Rs 44,319, followed by West Bengal at Rs 43,099 and Assam at Rs 35,000.
Karnataka pays Rs 30,000, Kerala offers Rs 27,300, and Delhi and Meghalaya each pay Rs 26,300. Telangana's stipend is listed at Rs 25,900, while Arunachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh offer Rs 25,000 each. Tamil Nadu's stipend is shown at around Rs 25,000, followed by Haryana at Rs 24,310 and Andhra Pradesh at around Rs 21,840.
Gujarat, Bihar, Goa, and Himachal Pradesh are listed at around Rs 20,000 a month, while Puducherry offers Rs 18,000. The interns argue that the disparity is stark and unjustifiable, given the comparable responsibilities and working hours across the country.