Protest by medical interns continues in Kashmir, Mehbooba says ‘deeply painful’

Protest by medical interns continues in Kashmir, Mehbooba notes 'deeply painful' Mufti additionally appealed to J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to meet the students and resolve their problems.

Key points

• Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir.
• (Express Photo by Shuaib Masoodi) The protests began on August 31, with medical interns going on strike en masse.
• They have additionally observed night vigils at their respective hospitals, and on Wednesday, PDP chief Mufti joined the doctors at Administration Medical College, Srinagar.
• Former J&K Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti.
• Former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday joined medical interns on an overnight vigil as their protest continued for a third day throughout the Valley.

Former J&K Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti. (Source: FB).

Former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday joined medical interns on an overnight vigil as their protest continued for a third day throughout the Valley. Medical interns working in hospitals throughout Kashmir have been on strike seeking an enhancement in their monthly stipends.

"It was deeply painful to see those who work exhausting 36-hour shifts, including nights, caring for patients and saving lives, forced to protest for a basic right. These young doctors are the backbone of our healthcare system. Their dedication cannot be met with neglect. A administration that expects them to serve with sacrifice must additionally respect their dignity, " she noted.

Medical interns have been seeking a revision of their monthly stipend. It is at present just above Rs 12, 000, to Rs 30, 000. These stipends have not been revised in the last seven years, and protesting doctors have remarked that the stipend of Rs 12, 000 is the "bare minimum" and "doesn't even cover the cost of commuting" to the hospitals where they work.

During their protests, medical interns at the Administration Medical College in Srinagar stated that their current stipend is just over Rs 12, 000 while in other parts of the country, it is upwards of Rs 30, 000. (Express Photo by Shuaib Masoodi) The protests began on August 31, with medical interns going on strike en masse. Congress, an alliance partner of the National Conference, has additionally called on the J&K Chief Minister to address the doctors' reservations. In a letter to Omar Abdullah, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee chief Tariq Hameed Karra advocated increasing the stipends for medical interns, citing their long and demanding hours.

According to Karra additionally, the stipend being provided to medical interns in J&K is "considerably lower" than that offered in a number of other parts of the country.

While in other parts of the country, it is upwards of Rs 30, 000, during their protests on Monday, medical interns at Administration Medical College, Srinagar, stated that their current stipend is just over Rs 12, 000. The medical interns in Kashmir are demanding a parallel hike in their stipends as well.

J&K Health Minister Sakina Itoo had remarked on the first day of the protest that the matter had been taken up and was under process by the J&K Administration. Nevertheless, she went on: "There is a financial implication to this decision and this is currently under review by the Finance Department, J&K Government." She additionally conceded that there is a need to rise stipends for the doctors and that the J&K Administration is cognisant of rising costs. "They did not, however, need to go on strike because this affects patient care, " Itoo remarked.

Notably, the doctors on strike have rejected this explanation by the J&K Administration, stating that they have been "hearing this for the last year" and asserting that they will continue their sit-in till their stipends are climbed. © The Indian Express Pvt Ltd.

Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region's transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies. Expertise Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics. Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers: Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K's first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls after the reorganization of the state. Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights. Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic problems such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities.

Taken together, the developments around protest by medical interns continues in Kashmir, Mehbooba says 'deeply painful' point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.