Maharashtra MBBS interns demand stipend hike from Rs 18k to Rs 30k per month
Mumbai: Demanding a higher monthly stipend, medical interns in Maharashtra have asked the state government to raise it from Rs 18,000 to Rs 30,000 per month.
The interns, who have completed their MBBS degree and are currently undergoing Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) in government and affiliated medical colleges across Maharashtra, have been raising concerns over the current stipend for the past two months, citing the rising cost of living, accommodation, transportation, food and other daily expenses.
In a representation submitted to the concerned authorities, the Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI), Maharashtra, said that interns regularly provide medical services in hospitals during this period. They are involved in patient examination, emergency services, ward duties, night duties, and practical work in various medical departments.
Hence, the association said that despite the workload, the current stipend is considerably lower than the income of many other graduate-level jobs, given the expenses for accommodation, transportation, food, and other daily needs. Considering the financial constraints faced by the interns, the association has requested the State Government to increase the monthly stipend to Rs 30,000.
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"At present, MBBS intern students are receiving a monthly stipend of ₹18,000. Considering the rising cost of living, accommodation, transportation, food and other daily expenses, this stipend is inadequate. During their internship, students are required to provide full-time services and, in many cases, work for long hours. Therefore, we respectfully request that the monthly stipend of MBBS intern students in Maharashtra be increased from ₹18,000 to ₹30,000," the representation mentioned.
ASMI Maharashtra said that it has been submitting representations to the concerned authorities for the past two months regarding the stipend revision. The association claimed that around 15 letters have been submitted to various authorities and departments, but no response has been received so far.
The representations have been submitted to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif, the Principal Secretary of the Medical Education and Drugs Department, and officials of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), among others.
Interns meet Medical Education Minister
On October 1, ASMI Maharashtra representatives met Maharashtra Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif to discuss the long-pending demand for an increase in the MBBS internship stipend.
During the meeting, the association reiterated the concerns of medical interns across Maharashtra and sought a concrete resolution to the demand. Sharing the update on a social media platform, ASMI Maharashtra said that the issue had also been raised with the minister earlier.
"The demand remains simple: fair and dignified compensation for the work and responsibilities carried by every intern. The conversation continues. The follow-up continues. The demand stands. they met on Oct 1," the association said in the post.
Meanwhile, Mushrif told The Times of India that the State Government is positive about increasing the stipend for medical interns.
"We are positive about increasing the stipend for medical interns. The medical education department has recommended a hike and sent a proposal in its favour to the planning and finance department. We have recommended that the hike must be on a par with recent stipend increases approved by other states," Mushrif told TOI.
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