Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Mar 19: Postgraduate resident doctors at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar are facing hardships as they continue to experience delays in receiving their monthly stipends.
The Diplomate of National Board (DNB) is equivalent to a postgraduate Master’s degree, similar to the MD/MS degree awarded to specialist doctors in India after completing a three-year residency.
The PG resident doctors expressed their frustration over the recurrent delays in receiving their stipends, which has left them struggling to meet their financial obligations. With approximately 600 residents in their first, second, and third years, many have been without stipends since January or February.
Junaid Ahmad, one of the resident doctors, said that despite repeated appeals to the authorities, the issue of delayed stipends continues, with little action taken to address it.
He lamented that over the past year, they have faced prolonged delays in salary payments, sometimes exceeding five months. “These delays are due to funding shortages resulting from the institution’s increased seat capacity,” he said.
The financial strain caused by these delays has prompted residents, both local and non-local, to consider staging a protest if salary disbursement does not occur within the next three days.
Resident doctors said that while they fulfill their duties diligently, the delayed compensation has left them feeling marginalised and demoralised.
“Despite assurances from officials, including verbal promises of imminent stipend releases, no tangible progress has been made, leaving us feeling disillusioned,” they said, adding that if the government fails to address their concerns promptly, they will have no choice but to resort to strike action, which could significantly impact patient care services.
Resident doctors also highlighted disparities in stipend payments, saying that GMC Srinagar pays only 60,000 rupees, which is far lower than the national average of 80,000 rupees. They urged higher authorities to intervene urgently to resolve the issue and ensure timely stipend payments.
They said despite taking up the issue with higher officials of GMC Srinagar, no positive response has come from any side. “Every official is assuring us verbally that the stipends will be released soon but as of now nothing has been done. We are now fed up with the assurances and if the government fails to issue our stipends then there is no option other than to go for a strike that will definitely affect patient care delivery services,” they warned.
Notably, GMC Srinagar had earlier issued a circular that stipend bills of senior residents and postgraduate scholars must be prepared and submitted to the treasury by or before the 6th of every month. “Any deviation from these circular instructions shall be dealt with strictly and the salary of the dealing assistants shall be kept withheld,” reads the circular.
“Authorities themselves are deviating from the circular issued by them. Are they going to take action against those who are involved in any kind of deviation,” they said while seeking the attention of the Secretary Health and Medical Education Department for a “one-time solution”.
An official from GMC Srinagar said that a meeting had been convened to address the matter. “Stipends will be disbursed within the next two days,” he said.
