Archive · 7 Sep 2026
J&K Medical Interns Escalate Stipend Protest With Hunger Strike
Medical interns in Jammu and Kashmir are protesting for higher monthly payments.
Interns from the 2021 MBBS batch at SKIMS Medical College in Bemina have started a hunger strike.
They want their stipend to rise from Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000.
The interns say the payment has not increased since 2019.
They also say prices and living costs have gone up.
Officials have held discussions and given assurances, but the interns say they have not received a written order.
MBBS and BDS interns across the region are taking part in the wider protest.
The SKIMS interns say they will continue the hunger strike until an official order is issued.
They have also announced that they will stop taking voluntary emergency-duty assignments.
MBBS 2021 interns at SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, began a hunger strike over their stipend demand.
MBBS and BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir have intensified their wider protest, according to an AIMSA J&K Wing announcement.
The interns are seeking a formal order raising the monthly internship stipend from Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000.
They said repeated discussions and assurances from authorities had not produced a written order.
The protesting interns said the hunger strike will continue until their demands are formally addressed; they also announced halting voluntary emergency-duty assignments.
- Who
- MBBS 2021 interns at SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, and MBBS and BDS interns involved in the wider Jammu and Kashmir protest.
- What
- The interns launched a hunger strike and intensified their protest for a written order increasing the monthly internship stipend to Rs 30,000; they also announced halting voluntary emergency-duty assignments.
- When
- The hunger strike began on Monday, described in the announcement as starting today; the stipend is said by the interns to have remained unchanged since 2019.
- Where
- SKIMS Medical College in Bemina, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, with the wider protest involving colleges across Jammu and Kashmir.
- Why
- The interns say discussions and assurances have not resulted in a formal written order and that they seek justice, dignity, and fair compensation for their work and responsibilities.
Interns' Position
Authorities' Reported Response
Need for a formal decision
Interns' Position
The interns say verbal assurances are insufficient and are demanding a written order raising the stipend to Rs 30,000.
Authorities' Reported Response
The reports say authorities have held repeated discussions and given assurances, but no official written order has been issued.
Continuing the protest
Interns' Position
The interns say the hunger strike and wider agitation will continue until their demands are formally addressed and the process is expedited.
Authorities' Reported Response
The reported administrative response has centered on dialogue and assurances; the articles do not report a completed resolution.
- Current monthly stipend
- Rs 12,300
- Requested monthly stipend
- Rs 30,000
- Protesting groups
- MBBS 2021 interns at SKIMS Medical College and MBBS and BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir
- Protest action
- Hunger strike
- Stipend unchanged since
- 2019, according to the protesting interns
- Protest condition
- The SKIMS interns say the hunger strike will continue until a formal written order is issued
- Additional action
- Interns announced halting voluntary emergency-duty assignments
