Srinagar, September 8: MBBS and BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday called off their strike after the government gave a written assurance that their long-pending stipend issue would be resolved within a month.
The decision was taken after a delegation of protesting interns met Health Minister Sakeena Masood Itoo on Tuesday afternoon to press for a time-bound resolution of their demand.
According to the minutes of the meeting, a copy of which is with the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the government assured the interns that the matter would be resolved within a month based on the recommendations of the Stipend Enhancement Committee.
The interns, who had repeatedly said that verbal assurances would not be enough, agreed to withdraw the strike and resume their duties in view of patient care as well as their academic and professional responsibilities.
The interns have been demanding an increase in their monthly stipend from the existing Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000, arguing that the current amount does not adequately reflect their workload, responsibilities and contribution to patient care.
The latest meeting followed the interns’ 48-hour hunger strike, during which they reiterated their demand for a formal commitment from the government on the stipend hike.
With the written assurance now on record, the interns decided to suspend their agitation while awaiting action on the committee’s recommendations within the stipulated one-month period.
