Interns Call for Rs 30,000 Monthly Stipend as Inflation Rises

The rising cost of food, transport and housing in Jammu and Kashmir has prompted a group of medical interns at SKIMS to demand a substantial hike in their monthly stipend. Currently receiving ₹12,300, the interns argue that the amount has not been revised since 2019, leaving them financially strained.

In their formal declaration, the MBBS 2021 interns stated that they have sought a written directive for a new stipend of ₹30,000, reflecting the steep inflation that has affected the region over the past few years. The interns emphasized that verbal assurances from officials have not resulted in any official paperwork, prompting them to start a hunger strike on September 7.

The protest is part of a larger wave of discontent among both MBBS and BDS interns across the state, who are demanding fair compensation for the duties they perform in hospitals and clinics. The interns clarified that the strike aims to accelerate a resolution, not to halt negotiations. They appealed to the state health authority and the government to act promptly and publish a formal order that addresses their financial concerns.

No official comment has been released by SKIMS or the state administration as of now, while the interns continue their fast, maintaining that the strike will end only after a written, enforceable order confirming the stipend increase is issued.