Raigarh Medical College MBBS Interns hold black band protest demanding stipend hike

Raigarh: Protesting against inadequate stipend, several MBBS interns at Raigarh Medical College in Chhattisgarh expressed their agitation by wearing black armbands while performing duty.

The interns continued providing medical services while holding a symbolic protest to press for an increase in their monthly stipend.

The interns said they work in the emergency department, wards, OPD, and other hospital units, often remaining involved in patient care throughout the day. However, they receive only Rs 15,900 per month, which, according to them, is much lower than the stipend paid to MBBS interns in several other states.

According to the protesting doctors, interns in Odisha receive around Rs 44,000, in West Bengal around Rs 43,000, and in Jharkhand around Rs 25,000 as a monthly stipend.

Also read- NMC revokes Rs 1 crore penalty on PGIMS Rohtak over stipend disclosure lapse

As per the latest media report by Dainik Bhaskar, the interns said they have been raising the issue with the government for a long time. Although they have received assurances on several occasions, they alleged that no concrete decision has been taken so far.

Meanwhile, intern doctors at medical colleges across Chhattisgarh have also begun wearing black armbands while on duty as part of a statewide symbolic protest demanding a stipend revision.

The interns warned that if the government does not respond positively to their demands soon, they may launch an indefinite strike across the state. They added that if patient services are affected due to such a strike, the responsibility would lie with the government.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that MBBS interns from government medical colleges across Madhya Pradesh held an indefinite strike, demanding an increase in their monthly internship stipend from Rs 14,337 to Rs 30,000. As part of the protest, the interns stopped performing clinical duties, alleging that repeated requests to the state government for the hike have not resulted in any action.

Also read- MP MBBS interns on strike demanding stipend hike to Rs 30k, doctors extend support