Medical interns warn of indefinite strike across state, demand hike in stipend
After years of pleading, medical interns are fed up with the false promises of the Maharashtra government to raise their stipend. To make the government hear and act upon their demands, medical interns across the state have decided to go on a peaceful protest from Thursday.
The medical interns, who assist the resident doctors in government-run hospitals, have given one week’s ultimatum to the government to accept their demands and if the same is not fulfilled, they have warned of resorting to indefinite strike.
“If our demands are not accepted before May 3 we have decided to call for a statewide strike. This strike will be indefinite,” said Dr Asif Patel, Secretary of Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI), Maharashtra.
Currently, the medical interns are getting a stipend of Rs 6,000 while the students from other states like Karnataka, West Bengal, Delhi get over Rs 15,000.
“The stipend amount of other states starts from Rs 15000 which is much higher than Maharashtra. Moreover, in West Bengal, medical interns get Rs21,000 every month and Assam provides Rs 15,000. But the government with the highest GDP is paying peanuts to us," said Dr Asif Patel, Secretary of
ASMI, Maharashtra.
The doctors said nearly 400500 medical and dental student from Mumbai will assemble in the premises of the Sir JJ hospital for a silent protest. “During the protest, we will give the ultimatum to the government to look into our demands. If our demands are not met than on May 3 we will conduct an indefinite strike across the state,” Dr Patel.
Earlier, in 2012, the first protest was held by the medical interns to increase the stipend amount from Rs 2500 to Rs 6000. "In the year 2012, after the stipend was raised, it was also promised that the amount would be increased on a yearly basis. But now, we have buried under paperwork with no fruitful outcome. We are left with no option but to protest," said Dr Patel.
The medical interns, who assist the resident doctors in government-run hospitals, have given one week’s ultimatum to the government to accept their demands and if the same is not fulfilled, they have warned of resorting to indefinite strike.