Srinagar, 30 September 2026 – Medical interns across Jammu and Kashmir resumed their duties on Wednesday after a nine‑day strike, following a written assurance from Health Minister Sakina Itoo that their stipend will be revised within 30 days.
The protest, which began on 21 September, had stalled negotiations with the Union Territory government because interns demanded a formal commitment on stipend enhancement. On Tuesday evening, Minister Itoo invited representatives of the striking interns for a fresh round of talks.
During the meeting, attended by the interns’ delegation, the Principal of Government Medical College Srinagar and the Deputy Director Planning on behalf of the Director Health Services Kashmir, the government pledged to adjust the monthly stipend in line with the recommendations of the Stipend Enhancement Committee. The promise was documented in writing, prompting the interns to call off the strike.
Interns had been staging a hunger strike outside Bemina Medical College, demanding that the monthly allowance rise from Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000. They argued that the figure had not changed since 2019 despite a sharp increase in living costs. Their work in emergency departments, OPDs, operation theatres and inpatient wards is vital to the region’s healthcare delivery.
Senior doctors, the Doctors Association Kashmir, the Jammu Kashmir Doctors Coordination Committee and several political leaders backed the interns, highlighting long working hours and soaring expenses. With the written guarantee now in hand, the MBBS and BDS interns broke their fast, left the protest site and returned to their clinical responsibilities.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Mangalorean News