Srinagar, Oct 20, KDC: The All India Medical Students’ Association (AIMSA) and MBBS/BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir have resumed their strike and announced candle marches at all Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) and SKIMS Bemina on Tuesday evening to protest the continued delay in implementing the long-pending stipend hike.
The decision comes amid growing resentment among interns over the alleged failure of the government to honour its written assurance issued on September 8, under which the interns had been asked to wait for 30 days for a resolution of their demand.
According to AIMSA, a delegation of the association met the authorities again on October 12, when OSD Peerzada Zahoor Ahmad reportedly sought another week to resolve the matter. However, during a subsequent visit to the Secretariat on October 19, the delegation met the Director General of Finance, but the issue remained unresolved.
AIMSA Joint Secretary Dr Tasaduk alleged that the delegation was subjected to humiliating remarks during its interaction with the OSD. The officer reportedly stated that the government was doing interns a favour by providing them with free medical education, reported news agency Kashmir Dot Com.
Objecting strongly to the alleged remarks, AIMSA maintained that public expenditure is funded by taxpayers and asserted that medical interns’ legitimate demands should be addressed with dignity and respect.
AIMSA President Dr Mohammad Momin Khan said the association respected government officers and institutions but would not tolerate rude or humiliating behaviour towards medical interns.
“We respect every officer and every institution, but we will not tolerate rude or humiliating behaviour towards medical interns,” Dr Khan said.
He expressed disappointment over the repeated assurances without a formal order, stating, “A written assurance, 30 days of waiting, another week of patience and repeated meetings have still not resulted in an implementation order.”
“If the file regarding the stipend hike is ready, release the order without further delay. Interns deserve dignity, transparency and justice, not endless assurances,” he added.
AIMSA reiterated that its agitation was focused on securing a stipend hike for MBBS and BDS interns in Jammu and Kashmir. The association has called upon the government to honour its written commitment and issue the implementation order without further delay.
The candle marches scheduled for Tuesday evening at GMCs across Jammu and Kashmir and SKIMS Bemina are intended to intensify pressure on the authorities to resolve the matter. (KDC)
