SRINAGAR: The ongoing protest by MBBS and BDS trainees at government-run medical institutions across Jammu and Kashmir intensified on Saturday, completing its sixth day without any resolution.
The striking interns have remained steadfast in their core demand, an upward revision of their current monthly stipend of INR 12,300 to INR 30,000.
Fresh attempts to break the deadlock proved unsuccessful on Friday when a delegation of the protesting interns held discussions with Health Minister Sakina Itoo. While the Minister reportedly acknowledged the legitimacy of their grievances and requested a month’s time to process the stipend revision, the interns rejected this verbal commitment outright. They have made it clear that they will not resume their duties until a formal government notification confirming the pay hike is issued.
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“The government has asked us to wait for a month, but we have been waiting for nearly seven years. Our protest will remain peaceful, but it will continue until we receive a written order,” stated a representative from the All India Medical Students’ Association.
The interns have consistently pointed out that their stipend has remained unchanged for almost seven years, despite the steep rise in living costs, grueling work schedules, and the demanding nature of their clinical duties.
They have also drawn comparisons with other states and Union Territories where medical interns receive substantially higher remuneration.
The protestors further highlighted that a government-constituted committee had recommended raising the J&K stipend to INR 25,000 back in 2023, but the proposal has yet to be implemented.
Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq took to social media to describe the current stipend as “inadequate” for young doctors bearing heavy clinical loads. He urged the administration to engage constructively with the protestors and resolve the matter without further delay.
The concerns raised by MBBS & BDS interns across J&K deserve serious and urgent consideration. A stipend of ₹12,300 is clearly inadequate for young doctors working long hours and carrying significant clinical responsibilities.
With a government-constituted committee having…
— Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) September 5, 2026
As the deadlock persists, routine healthcare services at major government medical colleges and hospitals across the Union Territory continue to face significant disruption. The interns have vowed to maintain their peaceful agitation until an official written order is issued, signaling no immediate end to the impasse.
