Srinagar | October, 07: The Association of Interns and Medical Students Association (AIMSA) on Wednesday urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government to issue a formal order within five days on the enhancement of stipends for MBBS and BDS interns, warning that failure to meet the deadline would leave them with no option but to resume their agitation.
Reports said that a delegation of medical interns and AIMSA representatives met Peerzada Zahoor Ahmad, JKAS, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Minister for Health and Medical Education to seek an update on the pending file and issuance of the formal order. The association said the concerned officer informed the delegation that all required levels of processing and signatures have already been completed. The officer assured the representatives that the order would be issued within the stipulated timeframe and is expected in the next few days. Following the assurance, the intern representatives decided to give the administration some more time to complete the process, while making it clear that their patience would be limited to five days.
AIMSA State President Dr Mohammad Momin Khan said, “The government must hike the stipend within the given timeframe. We have already waited for a long time and now expect the written assurance to be honoured without any further delay.” Meanwhile, the association said, “If the order is not issued within the stipulated five days, we will most likely resume our strike. We will subsequently hold a press conference in Srinagar and formally announce the next course of action.”
The development comes after MBBS and BDS interns suspended their agitation last month following an assurance by the Health Minister that their stipend will be hiked and the formal order will be issued. The interns have sought an increase in the stipend from the existing Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000 per month. The interns had set October 9 as the deadline for the government to fulfil its written assurance, with a warning that they could launch a hunger strike from October 10 if the order was not issued. With the latest assurance from the authorities, the intern representatives have decided to wait for a few more days before taking any further step.
The association said its decision to defer the agitation was based entirely on the assurance given by the concerned authorities and that failure to adhere to the promised timeline would compel the interns to resume their planned course of action. The interns have also urged Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo to intervene personally and ensure that the stipend enhancement order is issued at the earliest, saying the matter has remained pending despite repeated assurances.
