MP MBBS interns call off protest after 50 percent stipend hike to Rs 21,500
Bhopal: The medical interns in Madhya Pradesh have called off their three-day sit-in protest after the state government announced a 50 per cent increase in the monthly stipend from Rs 14,337 to Rs 21,500.
The stipend was increased on Wednesday following a successful resolution meeting between a delegation and representatives of the intern doctors, the Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) and the Medical Teachers Association (MTA), and Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla.
Along with increasing the stipend, the government has also removed 2 policemen from active duty in connection with the alleged lathicharge and use of water cannons against the protesting interns on Monday.
The intern doctors, who were protesting near the Kamala Park intersection in the state capital, had demanded that their monthly stipend be increased from the existing Rs 14,337 to Rs 30,000.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, however, approved a 50 per cent hike in the monthly stipend, taking it to around Rs 21,500, which is an increase of 7,000 per month from the previous stipend.
Expressing satisfaction over the outcome, Junior Doctors Association's Bhopal unit vice-president Dr Anurag Bhati told PTI the interns were calling off their three-day agitation as the government had accepted their key demands.
Dr Shubanshu Sharma, Vice President of Junior Doctors Association, Madhya Pradesh, also welcomed the government's decision. He told Medical Dialogues, “Although they have been protesting for almost two months now, initially we were only giving them moral support. But after the water cannon and lathi-charge incident, we started the strike with them. Now that their stipend has somehow reached a basic level, a CPI (Consumer Price Index)-based annual increment should be applied to their stipend to help them manage inflation.”
Junior Doctors' Associations of Government Medical Colleges across the State and Senior resident doctors at the Government Gandhi Medical College (GMC), Bhopal, supported the interns in the protest. They had suspended routine clinical services, including OPD and other non-emergency hospital activities, throughout the state to express solidarity with their agitating interns.
President of the Medical Teachers Association, MP, Dr. Rakesh Malviya told IANS, "The stipend for intern doctors has been increased by 50%. An assurance has been given that action will be taken against the police personnel who carried out the lathi-charge and that such action will not be taken in the future. Following an agreement on these demands, the Medical Teachers Association and junior doctors also called off their protest along with the intern doctors"
Action against police officials
Medical Dialogues had reported that the intern doctors from Gandhi Medical College and Hamidia Hospital had marched towards the Chief Minister’s residence in Bhopal on Monday, demanding a hike in their monthly stipend.
However, the protesters were stopped by police personnel using barricades and water cannons. Several protesting doctors were allegedly injured during the ensuing clash with the police. Following the incident, the interns demanded action against the use of force during their protest march.
Condemning the incident, Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla confirmed that the government has taken action against two police personnel.
An inquiry formed to investigate the use of water cannons during the protest found a Constable and Assistant Sub-Inspector responsible for the action; they have been sent to police lines and removed from active duty.
No action against protesters
The government has also assured the MBBS interns that it would take no action against them for participating in the protest.
Speaking to PTI, Shukla said, "After a good discussion, we have reached a resolution, and they (protesters) are quite satisfied with the outcome. The stipend has been increased by 50%. The two police officers who took unnecessary action against the students have been attached to the police lines. No cases will be registered against any of the students."
Why were the Intern Doctors Protesting?
The MBBS interns in Madhya Pradesh were demanding a hike in their stipend for the last couple of months.
Earlier, raising the issue, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) had written to the MP Chief Minister/ Referring to the stipend amount paid to them, FAIMA had mentioned that the amount was grossly inadequate in the current economic circumstances and fails to reflect the invaluable services rendered by them.
Back in July 2026, the MBBS interns from government medical colleges across Madhya Pradesh started 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 had stopped performing clinical duties, alleging that repeated requests to the state government for the hike have not resulted in any action.
According to the delegation of interns, there are 3,655 MBBS interns in government and private medical colleges in the state, of which 2,055 are studying in government medical colleges. They said the annual MBBS course fee is around Rs 1 lakh, while interns receive a monthly stipend of only Rs 14,337. They claimed that in Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, interns receive higher stipends despite relatively lower fees.
