GMC Jammu interns suspend strike after govt promises stipend enhancement
Jammu, Sep 8: MBBS interns of Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu on Tuesday announced the suspension of their indefinite strike following an assurance from Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo that their monthly internship stipend would be revised and enhanced within one month.
The interns had gone on an indefinite strike along with their colleagues serving in other hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir on August 31, protesting against the existing monthly stipend of Rs 12,300 and demanding that it be increased to Rs 30,000 per month.
“We, the MBBS interns of Government Medical College, Jammu, hereby wish to inform you that, following our meeting with Health & Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo, we have been assured that the stipend of MBBS interns will be revised and enhanced within one month.
“In view of this assurance and in the interest of maintaining uninterrupted patient care and academic activities, we have decided to temporarily call off our ongoing strike for a period of one month, with effect from today (Tuesday),” the striking MBBS interns said in a letter addressed to the principal of GMC Jammu.
The interns said the decision was taken in good faith and in the interest of maintaining uninterrupted patient care and academic activities at the hospital.
They, however, clarified that the decision amounts only to a temporary suspension of the strike and not a withdrawal of their demand.
The interns said that if the promised revision is not implemented within the stipulated one-month period, they would be compelled to reconsider their course of action.
The interns expressed hope that the government would fulfil its assurance within the promised timeframe and resolve their longstanding demand for a revision in the internship stipend. (PTI)
Press Trust of India (PTI) is India’s premier news agency.
