AYUSH interns hold candlelight march in Jabalpur, demand stipend hike from 9,383 to Rs 21,500

Jabalpur: Upset over the alleged delay in the stipend hike, around 150 to 200 AYUSH interns took out a candlelight march from Government Ayurvedic College to Jhanda Chowk, demanding an increase in their monthly stipend from Rs 9,383 to Rs 21,500.

At Jhanda Chowk, the protesting interns formed a human chain and raised slogans in support of their demand for a stipend on a par with that of MBBS students.

The interns said their current stipend was insufficient to meet their monthly expenses amid rising costs. They demanded equal financial benefits for AYUSH and allopathic medical students as they alleged that both groups work hard during their training and contribute to healthcare services.

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Raising the demand for equal pay for equal work, the interns said the existing stipend makes it difficult to cover monthly expenses. They said an increase in the stipend would provide financial relief to students and enable them to focus better on their studies and training.

Moreover, the interns mentioned that they are receiving support from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for their demand, and talks have also been held with the Ministry of AYUSH on the issue, but no order has been issued so far regarding an increase in the stipend.

As per Dainik Bhaskar media report, the interns said they had been raising this demand for a long time, but were forced to take the path of protest as no solution emerged.

During the candle march, the interns warned that they would intensify their agitation if the authorities failed to take a decision on their demand soon. They urged the concerned officials to consider their demand and issue an order on the proposed stipend hike.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that after MBBS interns in Madhya Pradesh protested demanding a stipend hike, Ayurveda interns in the state also sought an increase in their monthly stipend. The Ayurveda interns, who currently receive a monthly stipend of Rs 9,383, are demanding parity with MBBS interns at Rs 21,500 per month. They have given the state government 15 days to address their demand and warned of an agitation, including withdrawal from OPD services, if no action is taken within the stipulated period.

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