Chhattisgarh MBBS interns demand monthly stipend hike to Rs 25,000

Raipur: MBBS interns across Chhattisgarh are reportedly demanding an increase in their monthly stipend from Rs 15,900 to Rs 25,000, stating that the current amount is not sufficient to meet their daily expenses.

The interns from medical colleges across the state, under the banner of the Indian Medical Association’s Medical Students Network (IMA-MSN) Chhattisgarh, have begun submitting memorandums to their respective college deans seeking a stipend revision.

As per the association, the interns have been receiving the same stipend amount since 2023. They said the current stipend is not enough to manage accommodation, food, transport, and other basic expenses during the internship period.

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For this, a memorandum was recently submitted to the Dean of Late Shri Lakhiram Agrawal Memorial Government Medical College in Raigarh. The students said the discussion with the administration remained positive, and the dean’s office assured them that the matter would be forwarded to higher authorities.

Speaking to Dainik Bhaskar, IMA-MSN Chhattisgarh stated that after submitting memorandums to the deans of all medical colleges, the demand will be placed before the government.

Apart from the stipend revision, the interns have also demanded periodic stipend revisions in line with inflation and sought dignified and adequate financial support for interns.

Medical Dialogues recently reported that the National Medical Commission (NMC) informed the Supreme Court that the issue of non-payment of stipend to medical students exists only in 7 out of 756 medical colleges. According to the Apex Medical Commission, there is no dispute with regard to payment of stipend by 573 colleges, and 176 medical colleges have been established in the recent past; as such, the question of payment of stipend would not arise in those 176 medical colleges.

The Commission also assured that it has already taken steps by issuing show cause notices for the levying of a penalty to those seven medical colleges, which are not paying stipend.

Also read- 7 medical colleges not paying stipend to MBBS interns, residents- NMC tells Supreme Court, penalty proceedings initiated