J&K medical interns warn of indefinite hunger strike from October 10

Javid said interns had been pursuing the demand through peaceful and democratic means for several months and hoped the government would act within the agreed timeline.

“We sincerely hope that the Government will take the necessary steps within the committed timeline and that the long-awaited stipend enhancement will finally be implemented,” he said.

“We do not want confrontation. We want a written order, implementation and justice for medical interns who are working day and night in our hospitals and serving patients,” Javid added.

MBBS and BDS interns across the Union Territory had staged protests last month, demanding that their monthly stipend be raised from Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000. The interns argue that the stipend has remained unchanged for nearly seven years despite rising workloads and living expenses.

The agitation had intensified during the protest when interns observed a 48-hour hunger strike in support of their demand for a stipend revision.

The strike was suspended following a meeting chaired by Health Minister Sakina Itoo, which was attended by a delegation of medical interns and senior health department officials.

According to the official record note of the meeting, the issue should be brought to a logical conclusion without avoidable delay to ensure that interns’ academic and professional responsibilities are not affected and patient care remains uninterrupted.