JAMMU/SRINAGAR, September 1, 2026 – Healthcare services at various associated hospitals are expected to be impacted as MBBS and BDS interns across government medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir have launched an indefinite strike. The protesting medical interns are demanding a significant hike in their monthly stipend, which they say has remained stagnant for nearly seven years.
The protesting doctors abandoned their routine clinical duties on Monday, staging sit-ins and demonstrations at various locations, including Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, SKIMS Bemina, and GMCs in Jammu, Baramulla, Doda, and Kathua.
The core of their grievance lies in their current remuneration of ₹12,300 per month, which translates to roughly ₹400 a day. The interns are demanding that the government increase this amount to ₹30,000 to match the rising cost of living and align with the stipends provided to their counterparts in other states.
1.Stagnant Pay Despite Heavy Workload:
Protesting interns highlighted that they handle a substantial workload, being the first responders in emergency departments, while also managing 24-hour shifts, night duties, and rural postings. Despite these responsibilities, their stipend has not been revised since January 2019.
2.Disparity with Other States:
The interns presented comparative data revealing that their counterparts in states like Karnataka receive ₹30,000, while Kerala offers ₹27,300, and Delhi and Meghalaya pay ₹26,300. Even states like Gujarat, Bihar, and Himachal Pradesh provide around ₹20,000, placing J&K at the bottom of the national comparison chart.
3.Pending Government Approvals:
In 2023, a committee constituted by the Health and Medical Education Department recommended enhancing the stipend to ₹25,000 for the 2025-26 academic year. However, the proposal remains stuck in administrative and financial channels, forcing the interns to demand a formal, written notification rather than verbal assurances to end their agitation.
The strike has garnered political support, with Congress J&K unit chief Tariq Hameed Karra and PDP MLA Waheed Para urging the government to immediately address the genuine demands of the young medics.
Meanwhile, J&K Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo has responded to the protests, stating that the file for increasing the stipend is currently under process and a favorable decision will be taken soon. The interns, however, maintain that they will not resume work until a formal government order is issued.
Published by True Roots Media Network