WAJAHAT SHABIR
Srinagar: Medical interns across Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday suspended their strike and resumed duties after Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Masood Itoo assured them that their demand for enhancement of the internship stipend would be finalised within 30 days.
The decision followed a meeting between the minister and a delegation of medical interns from various medical colleges across the Union Territory. According to the record note of the meeting, the government has assured the interns that their demand will be considered on the basis of the recommendations of the Stipend Enhancement Committee.
A member of the delegation said the minister had assured them that the matter would be resolved within the stipulated timeframe.
“Keeping the assurance in consideration, we have decided to call off the strike,” the delegation member said.
At Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu, MBBS interns announced the temporary suspension of their indefinite strike following the minister’s assurance that their monthly stipend would be revised and enhanced within one month.
The interns had gone on strike on August 31 along with their colleagues serving in other hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir.
They are currently receiving a monthly stipend of ₹12,300 and have been demanding an increase to ₹30,000 per month.
In a letter addressed to the Principal of GMC Jammu, the interns said they had decided to temporarily call off the strike for one month, with effect from Tuesday, in view of the assurance and in the interest of uninterrupted patient care and academic activities.
The interns, however, made it clear that the decision was a suspension of the strike and not a withdrawal of their demand.
They said that if the promised revision was not implemented within the stipulated one-month period, they would be compelled to reconsider their course of action.
During the meeting, the interns apprised the minister of the existing stipend structure and sought its revision in view of the nature of their duties, workload and responsibilities.
The meeting was chaired by Sakeena Itoo and attended by the Principal of GMC Srinagar, the Deputy Director Planning representing the Director Health Services Kashmir, and representatives of medical interns from various medical colleges across J&K.
The minister gave a patient hearing to the delegation and said the concerns raised by the interns deserved due consideration.
She assured them that the government remained sensitive to their legitimate issues.
According to the record note, Itoo informed the delegation that the matter was already under consideration and that a committee had been constituted to examine the issue comprehensively under Government Order No. 538-JK(HME) of 2023, dated June 27, 2023.
Following detailed deliberations, it was decided that the matter would be finalised within 30 days based on the recommendations of the Stipend Enhancement Committee and keeping in view the legitimate concerns of the interns.
The meeting also emphasised the need to bring the matter to a logical conclusion expeditiously so that the academic and professional responsibilities of the interns were not adversely affected.
It was also observed that hospital services and patient care should continue uninterrupted.
In view of the assurance, the medical interns agreed to call off their strike and resume duties forthwith, keeping in mind the larger interest of patient care and their academic and professional responsibilities.
At GMC Jammu, the interns expressed hope that the government would fulfil its assurance within the promised timeframe and resolve their longstanding demand for revision of the internship stipend.
The temporary suspension of the strike provides the government with a 30-day window to act on the committee’s recommendations and finalise the proposed enhancement.
The interns’ decision also keeps the issue open, with the possibility of further action if the promised revision is not implemented within the stipulated period.
