Chhattisgarh junior doctors give ultimatum on stipend hike, threaten statewide strike
Raipur: The junior doctors in Chhattisgarh have issued a 15-day ultimatum to the state government, warning of a statewide strike or agitation if the government fails to address their long pending demands for revision of stipends for medical interns, postgraduate resident doctors, bonded medical officers and senior residents.
Seeking a fair and respectable hike in stipends, which they said has been pending for a long time, the Junior Doctors Association (JDA), Raipur, submitted a memorandum containing a 17-point charter of demands to the Dean of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College.
The development comes shortly after the doctors had decided to suspend their proposed agitation following discussions with the Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai-led administration.
The association said that the existing stipends need to be revised in view of the current economic conditions and urged the government to take an early decision.
Noting that the government has not revised the stipend, JDA has now given the state government 15 days to take concrete action on its demands. It warned that if a satisfactory decision is not taken within this period, medical professionals across the state will launch a statewide agitation and strike. The protest would see large-scale participation from interns, PG residents, bonded medical officers, and senior residents.
Speaking to TNIE, an official said, "The warning came a day after the state Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal assured that action has already been initiated on the proposal submitted by the Indian Medical Association Medical Students Network (IMA-MSN) Chhattisgarh regarding the revision of stipends."
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that MBBS interns across Chhattisgarh demanded an increase in their monthly stipend from Rs 15,900 to Rs 25,000, after noting 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, submitted 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.
Speaking on the matter, Dr Piyush Shrivastava, President of JDA Raipur emphasised that the movement is fought for doctors' dignity, rights, and equitable working conditions, not against any individual or institution. He noted that while the association favours dialogue and a democratic resolution, it remains fully prepared to agitate if its demands continue to be ignored. "A respectable stipend and fair rights for medical professionals are not privileges, but their legitimate entitlement," he said.
Also read- Chhattisgarh MBBS interns demand monthly stipend hike to Rs 25,000
