Medical interns in Nagpur and from across the state took out a candle march on Wednesday evening, demanding hike in stipend. The march was a step to remind the government of their demands that have already been put up before medical education minister Vijaykumar Gavit.
Though Maharashtra brags of the highest number of state-run medical colleges in the country, the interns get a lowly stipend of Rs 2,550 per month. This is the lowest stipend given to medical interns all through the country. Ironically, the interns at veterinary colleges in the state draw a higher remuneration of Rs 4,000. The stipend was as low as Rs 1,700 till 2009. It was only after a strike by the interns that the pay was increased by Rs 850.
"The Supreme Court had in a ruling last June directed the authorities concerned that medical interns should be paid at least half the amount taken home by resident doctors. Since they get around Rs 25,500, we should be getting around Rs 13,000," said Dr S Abhisheik, president of Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI) from Government Medical College and Hospital ( GMCH), Nagpur. He said, his colleagues want the government to increase the stipend periodically as the cost of living keeps increasing.
Other demands of the interns include providing them with a reasonably good accommodation and food. Most of the hostels in government medical colleges are notorious for bad sanitation and structure.
Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) is one of the many organisations supporting the interns' demands. "The interns are fully justified in whatever they are demanding. For a decent standard of living, a person should be earning at least Rs 100 every day, but what they get is something between Rs 80 and Rs 85. Even in terms of other amenities, there is a stark difference in those provided to the residents and the interns," said Dr Pankaj Nalawade, president of MARD.
Around 2,500 interns from 14 government colleges across the state took part in the march. They stressed that though their demands are justifiable, they do not want to raise a hue and cry and disturb patients who depend on them.
Though Maharashtra brags of the highest number of state-run medical colleges in the country, the interns get a lowly stipend of Rs 2,550 per month. This is the lowest stipend given to medical interns all through the country. Ironically, the interns at veterinary colleges in the state draw a higher remuneration of Rs 4,000. The stipend was as low as Rs 1,700 till 2009. It was only after a strike by the interns that the pay was increased by Rs 850.
"The Supreme Court had in a ruling last June directed the authorities concerned that medical interns should be paid at least half the amount taken home by resident doctors. Since they get around Rs 25,500, we should be getting around Rs 13,000," said Dr S Abhisheik, president of Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI) from Government Medical College and Hospital ( GMCH), Nagpur. He said, his colleagues want the government to increase the stipend periodically as the cost of living keeps increasing.
Other demands of the interns include providing them with a reasonably good accommodation and food. Most of the hostels in government medical colleges are notorious for bad sanitation and structure.
Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) is one of the many organisations supporting the interns' demands. "The interns are fully justified in whatever they are demanding. For a decent standard of living, a person should be earning at least Rs 100 every day, but what they get is something between Rs 80 and Rs 85. Even in terms of other amenities, there is a stark difference in those provided to the residents and the interns," said Dr Pankaj Nalawade, president of MARD.
Around 2,500 interns from 14 government colleges across the state took part in the march. They stressed that though their demands are justifiable, they do not want to raise a hue and cry and disturb patients who depend on them.
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