Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Sep 08 :
A fresh delegation of intern doctors from Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled to meet Health Minister Sakina Itoo on Tuesday to again raise their demand for enhancement of the monthly stipend and seek a formal government order on the issue.
The development comes amid the continued agitation by MBBS and BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir, who have been demanding that their stipend be increased from the existing Rs 30,000 per month. The interns have maintained that their protest will continue until the enhancement is formally approved and notified by the government.
According to details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a delegation of two intern doctors representing Jammu is currently on its way to Srinagar to participate in the meeting.
Dr Shahnawaz, Additional Secretary of the All India Medical Students’ Association (AIMSA), and Umair are expected to represent the Jammu side during the discussions and meeting is expected to take place at around 4 pm.
The latest meeting assumes significance as intern representatives had met Health Minister Sakina Itoo a few days ago to discuss the issue. During that interaction, the minister had sought one month for the government to process and resolve the matter.
The interns, however, did not agree to the proposed timeline and reiterated that they wanted an immediate written government order rather than another assurance or extended waiting period.
“We are hopeful of a positive outcome from today’s meeting. Our demand is clear-we want the stipend hike to be formally approved through a government order,” representatives said—(KNO)