Srinagar, October 20: Medical interns across Jammu and Kashmir, represented by the All India Medical Students’ Association (AIMSA), have recommenced their strike and announced candle marches to be held across Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) and SKIMS Bemina on Thursday evening. The protest action is a response to the persistent delay in the implementation of a long-awaited stipend increase.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the decision to resume the strike follows the administration’s alleged failure to adhere to a written assurance provided on September 8. This assurance had requested interns to allow a 30-day period for the matter to be resolved.
Further attempts to engage with authorities have reportedly yielded no concrete progress. On October 12, an AIMSA delegation met with officials, where the Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Peerzada Zahoor Ahmad, is said to have requested an additional week to address the issue. However, a subsequent visit to the Secretariat on October 19, where a delegation met with the Director General of Finance, concluded without a resolution, according to student representatives.
Dr. Tasaduk, Joint Secretary of AIMSA, voiced concerns regarding the interaction with the OSD, alleging that the delegation was subjected to disrespectful remarks. The OSD reportedly suggested that the government was providing a concession by offering free medical education to interns. AIMSA has strongly refuted these alleged statements, emphasizing that public funds are derived from taxpayers and that the legitimate demands of interns warrant respectful consideration.
Dr. Mohammad Momin Khan, President of AIMSA, stated, “We respect every officer and every institution, but we will not tolerate rude or humiliating behaviour towards medical interns. A written assurance, 30 days of waiting, another week of patience and repeated meetings have still not resulted in an implementation order. If the file regarding the stipend hike is ready, release the order without further delay. Interns deserve dignity, transparency and justice—not endless assurances.”
The association has reaffirmed that the core of the protest lies in the justified demand for an increased stipend for MBBS and BDS interns within Jammu and Kashmir. The planned candle marches are intended to draw public attention to the ongoing impasse. AIMSA has urged the government to honour its written commitment and to expedite the resolution of this matter without further delay.
The strike action signifies a continuation of the interns’ long-standing grievance regarding their remuneration, which they argue has not kept pace with the cost of living and the demands of their profession. The medical fraternity in the region is watching closely as the situation unfolds, with calls for a swift and equitable resolution to prevent further disruption to medical services and the educational progression of the interns.
The Chenab Times News Desk