MBBS and BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir have commenced an indefinite strike protesting the current monthly stipend of ₹12,300 and demanding it be raised to ₹30,000, officers and participants said on Monday. Demonstrations and dharnas were reported at medical college hospitals in Srinagar and at multiple locations in Jammu.
What led to the walkout
Interns said the stipend has not been revised for nearly seven years despite repeated representations. They argued that the amount is inadequate given the duties they perform — which include 24-hour and night duties, postings in rural areas and first-response care in emergency departments — and pointed to substantially higher stipends paid to interns in several other states.
"We have been forced to abandon work and take to the streets. All we are demanding is a stipend commensurate with the number of hours we work," said one protesting intern.
Protesters gathered on the lawns outside SKIMS Bemina and the Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, while dharnas were staged at various points in Jammu. Organisers said interns across MBBS and BDS streams in the Union Territory had joined the action.
Comparative figures presented by protesters
Students displayed comparative data to underline their demand, highlighting that stipends in several States are markedly higher. The figures shown by protesters included:
- Odisha: ₹44,319 per month
- West Bengal: ₹43,099 per month
- Assam: ₹35,000 per month
- Jammu & Kashmir: ₹12,300 per month
| State / UT | Stipend (per month) |
|---|---|
| Odisha | ₹44,319 |
| West Bengal | ₹43,099 |
| Assam | ₹35,000 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | ₹12,300 |
Interns' rationale and duties
Protesting interns emphasised that their responsibilities extend beyond routine work: they assist in outpatient departments, manage wards, participate in procedures and are usually among the first medical personnel to attend emergencies. They said these tasks, combined with long and night shifts, make the current stipend inadequate in the face of rising living costs.
One intern, identifying himself as Dr Shahnawaz, reiterated the call for parity with other States and demanded the stipend be fixed at ₹30,000. He said interns in other parts of the country receive monthly amounts ranging from around ₹25,000 to over ₹45,000.
Impact on hospital services and next steps
Interns said they had halted work after receiving no satisfactory response from authorities to earlier representations. The strike is indefinite, and organisers warned it will continue until the government initiates meaningful talks or announces a revision. The walkout may affect routine services in medical college hospitals where interns form part of frontline clinical teams.
There was no immediate official response from the Jammu and Kashmir Health Department or the administration of the affected medical colleges at the time of reporting. It is unclear whether emergency services will be managed through deputation, reallocation of staff or other contingency arrangements.
Broader context
Stipend levels for medical interns are determined by State and UT governments and can vary widely. Interns across India have, in recent years, campaigned in various jurisdictions for standardised and higher rates, arguing that better compensation is necessary given the workload and the role interns play in public healthcare delivery.
Health sector observers say unresolved grievances among trainees can disrupt hospital operations and morale. Any decision on stipend revision in Jammu and Kashmir would likely involve budgetary allocation and administrative sanction from the UT government.
The interns have called for authorities to engage with them and address the demand for an increase to ₹30,000. Until an official statement or negotiation is announced, the strike is expected to persist, with potential implications for patients who rely on services at teaching hospitals.
Further updates will follow as hospitals, the Health Department and the striking interns provide more information.
