A fresh delegation of intern doctors from Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled to meet Health Minister Sakina Itoo on Tuesday to press for an increase in their monthly stipend and seek a formal government order on the issue.
The MBBS and BDS interns in Jammu and Kashmir have been protesting the stipend, which is currently Rs 30,000 per month, and this gives the meeting significance. The interns said they would continue their protest till the government formally approves and notifies the increase.
Two intern doctors from Jammu will travel to Srinagar to attend the meeting, according to details made available by the Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Dr. Shahnawaz, additional secretary of the All India Medical Students’ Association (AIMSA) and Umair are to represent the Jammu side. The meeting has been scheduled for 4 p.m.
The latest meeting with the government came after an earlier meeting between intern reps and Sakina Itoo, where the minister sought a month for the government to process the issue and resolve it.
Instead of more assurances, the interns demanded a prompt written government order instead of the proposed schedule.
“We are hopeful of a positive outcome from today’s meeting. Our demand is clear: we want the stipend hike to be formally approved through a government order,” representatives said.
