Why J&K Interns' 12K Stipend Sparks Outrage and LG Appeal

In the heart of Jammu and Kashmir's healthcare system, a stipend crisis is brewing. MBBS and BDS interns, toiling through exhaustive shifts after years of rigorous study, are paid a paltry 12,300 rupees monthly—a figure unchanged despite persistent demands. Now, they've turned to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, beseeching his intervention to break the impasse. Administrative ping-pong defines the saga. The Finance Department blames the Chief Minister's office; Minister Sakina Itoo counters it's stuck in Finance. Dr. Momin captures the interns' despair: 'We match laborers' daily grind but earn far less for saving lives.' Nationwide, relief abounds. Bihar greenlit hikes recently, while Odisha and West Bengal pay upwards of 30,000 rupees. J&K's interns feel neglected, their 36-hour marathons and night vigils undervalued. Promises evaporate like morning mist in Srinagar. Queries to Finance redirect to CMO; CMO vows quick resolutions that drag on. This cycle of delays has fueled accusations of deliberate neglect. The collective plea to LG Sinha underscores the urgency. Young doctors warn that without reform, motivation wanes and talent flees. For a union territory prioritizing health reforms post-Article 370, addressing this could signal real commitment to its future healers. Will Sinha step in to end the standoff?