The prolonged stagnation of stipends for medical interns in Jammu and Kashmir is a glaring example of institutional indifference toward some of the most crucial yet vulnerable contributors to the healthcare system. Earning just Rs 12,300 per month-a figure untouched since 2019-these young professionals continue to shoulder substantial responsibilities in outpatient departments, wards, and even emergency services, with compensation that barely covers subsistence. It is both disheartening and unjust that the backbone of hospital operations-medical interns-are denied fair remuneration, despite clear recommendations and national benchmarks. Interns across various Government Medical Colleges in J&K are not mere observers; they actively participate in patient care, often working long hours under high pressure. Their role is indispensable, and yet, they remain among the lowest-paid medical trainees.
The facts are straightforward. A committee constituted by the Government in June 2023, headed by the Director of Finance of the Health and Medical Education Department, submitted its report in August 2023. It recommended a revised stipend of Rs 26,350, aligning with National Medical Commission norms. However, the proposal has been inexplicably stuck in the Finance Department since January 2024-a classic case of bureaucratic inertia at the cost of young professionals’ well-being. This is not just a financial issue but a question of equity and recognition. When states like Telangana have proactively raised internship stipends to Rs 29,792, J&K’s failure to act reveals a troubling disparity. The argument that “processes take time” collapses when we consider that all formalities have already been completed.
It is high time a rational, automatic mechanism was institutionalised to revise stipends periodically rather than relying on erratic file movements and hollow assurances. The last revision occurred under the Governor’s rule in 2019-six years and one pandemic later, the system remains unmoved. Why should interns be denied annual increments or Dearness Allowance, which are standard for all Government employees? The Finance Department-which falls directly under the Chief Minister’s purview-must not become a bottleneck. Medical interns deserve more than praise-they deserve policy-driven respect, timely pay revisions, and a system that recognises their indispensable service to healthcare.
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