MBBS interns from Jammu Kashmir are among the most underpaid in the country. With monthly wages barely surpassing 12,000 rupees, they lag far behind their counterparts in Karnataka, who receive a substantial 33,000 rupees per month.
The inters, frustrated by their monthly stipends being lower than those of unskilled laborers, have appealed to higher authorities to intervene and resolve the pending issue promptly. Speaking to The Kashmiriyat, several interns from the Sher e Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), who preferred not to be named, stated that they have met with officials multiple times, but their efforts have been in vain.
The matter was taken up by the health professionals several times during the last four years.
“The office of the Administrative Secretary of Health and Medical Education Department has been ignoring us, unfortunately. We have not even got an appointment in the office, despite having summited several requests,” an MBBS intern from SKIMS said.
“I am presently doing internship in SKIMS Medical College. We are paid 12,300 rupees a month with leaves, which estimates to 400 per day which is even less than the minimum wages paid to unskilled labour all over the country. The stipend of J K Medical interns is less than National average in Central Institute of Government of India recently increase the stable from 26350 to 30,070 but we are still being paid 400 rupees per day,” he told The Kashmiriyat.
Over the past four years, the doctors have submitted numerous representations to officials regarding this matter. In response, the Health and Medical Education department formed a committee in July 2023 to examine the financial implications of the reduced stipend. The committee recommended an increase in the stipend. However, despite several months having elapsed, no action has been taken thus far.
On June 27, 2023, the Jammu Kashmir admin responding to the repeated pleas of the doctors ordered the constitution of a committee under the order number 538-JK (H&ME) of 2023, dated 27-06-2023.
“Sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of a Committee comprising the following officers to work-out the financial implication for reasonable enhancement of stipend in favour of MBBS/BDS interns in different Government Medical/Dental Colleges of Jammu & Kashmir, Director Finance, H&ME, Department, Principal, Govt. Medical College, Jammu/Srinagar. 3. Director (Coordination), New Govt. Medical Colleges, Principal, Govt. Dental College Jammu/Srinagar,” read the order of which a copy is available with The Kashmiriyat.
The Committee was asked to submit its recommendations within a period of 15 days.
Following this, the office of the dean of GMC Jammu in a letter to the the Administrative Secretary of Health and Medical Education Department of Jammu Kashmir. The letter dated 18 July 2023 supported the demands of the medical students and also raised an alarming issue that the stipend of MBBS interns in Jammu Kashmir was the lowest in the country.
“The Stipend of MBBS interns of J&K is at present amongst the lowest in the country at an average of 400 per day ( 12,300 per month). Even a highly skilled worker on a job like construction of roads and buildings is entitled to a daily wage of 876 as per the order No. F.No.1/4(3)/2022-LS-II dated 12-08-2022 of Ministry of Labor & Employment, GOL,” the letter highlighted.
The Principal’s report also stated that all central Government institution and Hospitals pay 26,300 per month as stipend Interns as per the order issued by the Govt. Of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare vide No. F.No. S. 11014/02/2018- ME dated 09-07-2021. Copy of the same has been attached as a pdf to this appeal.
“West Bengal Govt. Pay 28050 per month as stipend to interns as per order issued by the Govt. Of West Bengal, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Kolkata vide No. HF/O/MERT/544/HFW-24011(14)/5/2019 dated 08-06-2021,” read the report submitted in July last year.
The report added that the intern doctors are adults who are expected to financially support their family and present amount of stipend is lowest amongst the other colleges and institutions and are backbone of the Medical College and frequently working on day & light duty i.e. 24 hour shift.
“In the lights of above stated facts, it is humbly requested that stipend of the interns may kindly be enhanced to 26,350 per month amounting to 50% of the Basic pay of Medical officers in UT of J&K being paid 52, 700 per month at present so that our daily income amounts to ₹ 870 which will be at par with the daily wage of a highly skilled worker as per the Ministry of Labour and Employment, GOI.”
The MBBS intern said that, “Despite the fact that we work day and night and barely find time to do anything else, we are the least paid people, which is highly unfortunate.”
In central hospitals, the stipends of interns stand at 26, 300, while in Karnataka the MBBS interns are paid 33,000, in Assam they are paid ₹30,000, while Delhi pays ₹26,300 to its MBBS interns, Kerala pays ₹25,000, West Bengal ₹20,850 and Bihar pays to ₹20,000 its MBBS interns.
“Being on a strike, we would be highly unethical, because patient care would immensely suffer, but it looks that the Jammu Kashmir admin wants to leave us with no option, but to start a strike to demand the increase of our monthly stipend,” the MBBS intern told The Kashmiriyat.