Medical interns to continue stir after meeting FM

Medical interns to continue stir after meeting FM

Pune: The striking medical interns have decided to continue their agitation. Earlier, State Finance Minister (FM) Sudhir Mungantiwar had assured them that a written confirmation from the State government will be sent to them by June 19. 

Medical interns from government medical colleges across the State went on a strike from Wednesday on the issue of a hike in stipend. The interns in Maharashtra receive Rs 6,000 per month as stipend for a year-long medical internship.

There has been no stipend hike for the past four years despite continuous follow ups by the Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI).

Speaking to Sakal Times, Darshan Kalal, President, ASMI, Maharashtra, said that in a meeting held in Nagpur on Saturday, the minister responded in a positive manner. “The minister has assured that we will get a written confirmation regarding funds from the State Finance Department by June 19. However, the minister added, the increase in stipend is an issue of the Directorate of Medical Education (DMER). Hence the minister cannot guarantee a hike in stipend,” said Kalal. 

For the past four days, the government was very reluctant to interact with these medical interns. The issues at the centre of the strike is the delay in hike of the stipend. According to members of ASMI, the State government charges the maximum fees for medical education in the country, whereas the stipend given to the interns is the least in the country.

Kalal said that the even states like Bihar and Assam offer better stipend than Maharashtra. “The fee they charge from medical students is also less. In such cases, students from Maharashtra suffer a lot. I live in Mumbai. In cities like Pune and Mumbai, Rs 6,000 is nothing. We are students who have finished their MBBS and are very hesitant to ask for monetary help from our families who have already spent Rs 67,000 per year for our MBBS fees,” said Kalal.

Stir over paltry stipend
 Medical interns from government medical colleges across the State went on a strike from Wednesday on the issue of a hike in stipend. The interns in Maharashtra receive Rs 6,000 per month as stipend for a year-long medical internship.
  There has been no stipend hike for the past four years despite continuous follow ups by the Association of State Medical Interns.

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