As medical interns across Kashmir protested for an increase in their monthly stipends, the Congress party, an alliance partner in the Jammu and Kashmir government, raised the issue with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. In a letter to the CM, Pradesh Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra advocated for a stipend enhancement, emphasizing that young doctors often work long hours, including 36-hour shifts, while attending to patients with dedication.
“"Despite the demanding nature of their work and the immense workload, they continue to discharge their responsibilities in the interest of patients and public healthcare," Karra stated.
Karra highlighted that the stipend for medical interns in J&K is considerably lower than in other regions of the country. During protests on Monday, medical interns at the Government Medical College in Srinagar expressed their concerns, noting that their current stipend is just over Rs 12,000, while in other parts of the country, it exceeds Rs 30,000.
Interns' Perspective
Dr Anam, one of the protesting doctors, remarked,
“"We are the backbone of all hospitals in J&K. We run OPDs and night shifts and yet our stipends are stuck at Rs 12,000."
She pointed out that the stipends have not been revised in the last seven years. The interns have approached the government for a revision but have not received a satisfactory response. Karra described the interns' demands as genuine and urged the CM for sympathetic and immediate consideration.
