State health minister meets intern reps, but formal order still awaited

Health minister Sakina Ittu held talks with representatives of the striking medical interns in Srinagar, attempting to defuse the hunger strike that began a week ago. While the minister reiterated the government's willingness to address the stipend issue, she did not present a signed order.

Interns contended that prior assurances have not translated into actionable policy, citing the unchanged stipend since 2018. They reiterated that only a formal written order raising the stipend to ₹30,000 will bring the protest to a close.

Chief Minister Umar Abdullah earlier acknowledged that the matter should have been resolved promptly, noting that the ongoing strike is affecting both training schedules and patient care in state hospitals.