Srinagar, Sep 7: The medical interns from 10 Government Medical Colleges and two Dental Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir have intensified their agitation and on Monday began a 48-hour hunger strike to press for a rise in monthly stipend.

The medical college interns are demanding a hike from the existing Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000, arguing that the stipend has remained unchanged for years despite rising inflation, long working hours and emergency duties.
"Our strike is indefinite. It will not stop until we receive an official order. But now, over a week has passed since the strike began. If the government takes an issue seriously, it doesn't take this long to issue an order," a protesting medical intern, Dr Faraz said.
He said the medical interns were compelled to sit on a hunger strike to create sustained pressure on the government. "No one forced them. Two to three students from each college have come forward to sit on a hunger strike," he said.
The protesting interns said the government keeps asking for time, but they have already given them three years.
"The recommendation was made in 2023. Even if we assume they only started taking the issue seriously after the strike began, eight days have passed, and there is still no order. So, if they continue to give verbal assurances like 'we will look into it in a month or two', the interns are not going to be convinced anymore," Dr Faraz said.
He accused the college administration of attempting to "intimidate and threaten" the interns.
"It is unacceptable. We are protesting for our legitimate rights. We are not going to be intimidated if the college administration tries to silence us through unfair means. We gave them a fitting response yesterday," he said.
Another medical intern, Dr Musharaf, said while there have been some positive developments in the negotiations with the government, no solution has been reached yet.
"Our subsequent dialogue will continue moving forward, so we will not say that it has entirely failed," he said.
"For now, we are starting a 48-hour hunger strike, and subsequently we will plan our course of action as things progress," he said.
Meanwhile, AIMSA State President, Dr. Mohammad Momin Khan urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to personally intervene in the matter and facilitate an early resolution.
Khan appealed to the LG administration to address the long-pending demand and ensure that a formal written order is issued, providing relief to hundreds of MBBS and BDS intern doctors across Jammu & Kashmir.
The protesting interns have maintained that they will continue their peaceful movement until a concrete decision is taken on the stipend enhancement
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called for an early resolution of the issue, saying the matter had serious implications for healthcare services and the interns' training.
He made it clear that the Health Department would have to take the first decision on the issue.
Talking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar said the issue primarily falls under the purview of the Health Department and that other government departments could act only after the department takes a decision.
"It's sad. The matter shouldn't have come to this," Omar said, adding that the Health Department would have to take the first decision.
Omar said Health Minister Sakina Itoo had spoken to the protesting doctors and, as far as he knew, they had been given assurances.
"But what will happen next, you should ask Sakina," he said.
Omar said he wanted the issue to be resolved as soon as possible, stressing that the continuing standoff was not in anyone's interest.
"First of all, their work is suffering. Their internship is suffering. And we don't want our children to do this," he said.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the Health Department would have to take a decision first, following which the rest of the government could act.