SRINAGAR — The Association of Interns and Medical Students Association (AIMSA) on Wednesday gave the Jammu and Kashmir Government five days to issue a formal order enhancing the stipend of MBBS and BDS interns, warning that failure to meet the deadline could lead to resumption of their agitation.
A delegation of medical interns and AIMSA representatives met Peerzada Zahoor Ahmad, JKAS, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Minister for Health and Medical Education, to seek an update on the pending file and the issuance of the formal order, according to the news agency KNO.
The association said the officer informed the delegation that all required levels of processing and signatures had been completed.
He also assured the representatives that the order would be issued within the stipulated timeframe and was expected in the next few days, the association said.
Following the assurance, the intern representatives decided to give the administration some more time to complete the process, while making it clear that their patience would extend only for five days.
AIMSA State President Dr Mohammad Momin Khan said the government should implement the stipend hike within the given timeframe.
“The government must hike the stipend within the given timeframe. We have already waited for a long time and now expect the written assurance to be honoured without any further delay,” Khan said.
The association said it would consider resuming its strike if the order was not issued within five days.
“If the order is not issued within the stipulated five days, we will most likely resume our strike. We will subsequently hold a press conference in Srinagar and formally announce the next course of action,” AIMSA said.
The development comes after MBBS and BDS interns suspended their agitation last month following an assurance from Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo that their stipend would be enhanced and a formal order issued.
The interns have sought an increase in the monthly stipend from the existing ₹12,300 to ₹30,000.
The association had earlier set October 9 as the deadline for the government to fulfil its written assurance and warned that a hunger strike could begin from October 10 if the order was not issued.
Following Wednesday’s latest assurance, the intern representatives decided to wait for a few more days before taking any further action.
AIMSA said its decision to defer the agitation was based entirely on the assurance given by the authorities and that failure to adhere to the promised timeline would compel the interns to resume their planned course of action.
The association also urged Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo to intervene personally and ensure that the stipend enhancement order is issued at the earliest, saying the matter had remained pending despite repeated assurances.
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