Iltija Mufti backs protesting MBBS, BDS interns, supports stipend hike demand

Srinagar, Sep 1: PDP leader Iltija Mufti on Tuesday extended support to MBBS and BDS interns protesting across Jammu and Kashmir over the long-pending demand for revision of their monthly stipend.
Mufti visited the protesting interns at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar and expressed support for their demand to increase the monthly stipend from the existing Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000.
Addressing the interns, she described their demand as reasonable and justified, highlighting the workload and extended duty hours involved during medical internship.
She said interns are required to perform long duties, sometimes extending from 12 to 48 hours, while receiving a stipend that she described as inadequate in comparison with payments made to interns in several other states.
Mufti referred to higher internship stipends in states including Odisha, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, arguing that Jammu and Kashmir should also provide interns with a stipend commensurate with their work and responsibilities.
The support comes as MBBS and BDS interns continued their peaceful agitation for the second consecutive day across medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir, demanding implementation of the proposed stipend revision.
The interns have maintained that they will continue their strike until a concrete decision is taken on their demand.
Health Minister Sakeena Itoo has already termed the interns’ demand genuine and said the government has processed the matter and forwarded the proposal to the Finance Department for examination of its financial implications.
The interns, however, have said that repeated assurances have failed to resolve the issue and have called for the stipend to be actually revised before they withdraw their agitation. [KNT]