Srinagar, Oct 28 (KNO): Postgraduate (PG) and Diplomate of National Board (DNB) residents at Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara on Wednesday held a peaceful protest demanding an increase in their stipends, prompting the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) to extend support to the protesting doctors.
The protesting residents, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), expressed concern over what they described as a disparity in stipends paid to postgraduate medical trainees in Jammu and Kashmir compared to their counterparts in other states.
They urged the government to review the existing stipend structure and ensure fair compensation for doctors undergoing rigorous postgraduate training.
The residents questioned why their stipends remained significantly lower than those offered in several other states, where postgraduate doctors receive more than Rs 1 lakh per month.
They said postgraduate residents shoulder substantial clinical responsibilities while undergoing specialised training and serving patients, making a revision of their stipends necessary.
Meanwhile, AIMSA strongly supported the protesting residents and called upon the government to address their demands without further delay.
Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, President of AIMSA, expressed solidarity with the doctors and urged the authorities to take immediate steps to resolve the issue.
He said the demand for a stipend hike was genuine and deserved serious consideration, adding that postgraduate residents across government medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir could also join the agitation if the concerns of the Handwara residents remained unaddressed.
AIMSA also raised concerns over the issuance of show-cause notices to three PG residents—Dr Rounak, Dr Abhijeet and Dr Sanjeev—in connection with the protest.
The association strongly condemned the action and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the notices, maintaining that the concerns raised by the residents should be addressed through dialogue.
It urged the authorities to engage with the protesting doctors and resolve the matter amicably rather than allowing the issue to escalate further.
AIMSA reiterated its commitment to supporting postgraduate residents in their demand for equitable stipends, dignity and recognition of their contribution to the healthcare system.
The association said timely intervention by the government was necessary to prevent the issue from triggering protests at other government medical colleges across the Union Territory—(KNO)