SRINAGAR, October 30, 2026 – Escaping a potential healthcare crisis in the Union Territory, Resident Doctors’ Associations (RDAs) at government medical colleges across Jammu and Kashmir have issued a stern warning to the administration. Backed by the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA), the doctors have set a November 12 deadline for the government to address their demands for a revision of postgraduate and senior resident stipends, failing which they will initiate a strike.
The RDAs of Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu and GMC Rajouri are spearheading the demand for a time-bound revision of stipends and the implementation of a uniform remuneration framework across all government medical colleges in J&K.
RDA GMC Jammu declared that it will resort to “structured and democratic forms of protest, including a strike,” if the government fails to offer a satisfactory resolution or a concrete, written commitment by the set deadline. The Rajouri association has echoed this stance, warning of a peaceful strike if the authorities remain unresponsive.
AIMSA has strongly supported the demands, urging the government to resolve the discrepancy through dialogue and ensure transparent remuneration for the resident doctors.
Currently, postgraduate residents at GMC Jammu receive approximately Rs 64,000 per month in their first year, Rs 67,000 in the second year, and Rs 70,600 in the third year. Senior residents are paid between Rs 85,000 and Rs 95,000. At GMC Rajouri, the stipends are even lower, starting at Rs 57,970 for first-year residents and capping at Rs 61,490 for the third year.
The associations argue that these figures fail to reflect the rising living costs and the demanding clinical responsibilities shouldered by the doctors. According to RDA GMC Jammu, there is a glaring 30-40 percent gap between the stipends in J&K compared to states like Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Bihar, where stipends range between Rs 90,000 and Rs 1 lakh.
The associations have requested an official comparison with premier institutions like AIIMS Jammu and SKIMS Srinagar, and called for an examination under the National Medical Commission guidelines. Representatives from AIMSA, including Dr. Mohit Choudhary, Dr. Burhan Hameed, and Dr. Sanah Javid, are demanding a documented review of the stipend rates and a formal timeline for implementation.
The escalating tension comes days after postgraduate residents at GMC Handwara held a silent protest over the same issue, resulting in show-cause notices being served to three doctors. The current deadline follows the government’s recent decision to hike stipends only for MBBS and BDS interns, leaving the senior resident doctors dissatisfied.
Published by True Roots Media Network