Iltija Mufti Joins J&K Medical Interns’ Strike at GMC Srinagar, Urges Omar Abdullah to Act on Stipend Demand
By : Sagar South Kashmir
The ongoing strike by MBBS and BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir received political backing on Tuesday after senior PDP leader Iltija Mufti joined the protesting medical graduates at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Mufti expressed solidarity with the interns, who are demanding an increase in their monthly stipend from the current Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000.
The protesting interns have described the existing stipend as inadequate and among the lowest paid to medical interns in the country.
Iltija Mufti urges CM Omar Abdullah to intervene
After visiting the protest site, Iltija Mufti took to X to highlight the interns’ concerns and urged Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene in the matter.
“Stood in solidarity with medical interns at GMC Srinagar today,” Mufti said in her post.
She said J&K’s medical interns were receiving a very low stipend and questioned how they could manage their expenses with around Rs 12,000 a month.
Mufti urged the Chief Minister to take immediate cognisance of what she described as a long-standing demand of the protesting interns.
Interns demand Rs 30,000 stipend
The MBBS and BDS interns have been on strike since Monday, demanding a revision of their stipend.
The interns say they perform important clinical duties, including work in emergency departments, wards and outpatient departments, along with night shifts and rural postings.
They have also highlighted the difference between the stipend paid in J&K and that offered in several other states and Union Territories.
According to the protesting interns, stipends elsewhere generally range between Rs 25,000 and Rs 45,000, depending on the state.
2023 recommendation remains unresolved
The interns have also pointed to a government committee constituted in 2023 to examine the issue of their stipend.
They said the committee had recommended an increase, but the proposed revision has not yet been formally implemented.
The issue has remained a major point of contention, with the interns alleging that the file has been pending with the concerned government departments.
Strike affects hospital services
The statewide strike has affected routine work at several government medical institutions across Jammu and Kashmir.
The interns have maintained that they do not want patients to suffer and that emergency services would continue. However, the suspension of their routine duties has affected normal hospital functioning.
The protesting medical graduates have said they will continue their peaceful strike until the government issues a formal written order addressing their demand for a higher stipend.
With Iltija Mufti now joining the protest and publicly urging the Chief Minister to act, pressure is mounting on the J&K administration to resolve the long-pending issue.
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