Medical Interns Launch 48-Hour Hunger Strike in J&K

Medical interns from 10 Government Medical Colleges and two Dental Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir are on a 48-hour hunger strike starting Monday, following unsuccessful talks with state authorities regarding a much-needed increase in their monthly stipend. The interns initiated this action as part of a continuous protest that extends into its seventh day, highlighting their urgent need for better financial compensation.

Dr. Faraz, a protesting intern, expressed frustration over the prolonged negotiations. “Our strike is indefinite. It will not stop until we receive an official order. But now, over a week has passed since the strike began,” he stated. The clear sentiment among the interns is one of disillusionment, voiced strongly by Dr. Faraz, who emphasized that “if the government takes an issue seriously, it doesn’t take this long to issue an order.”

According to Dr. Faraz, the hunger strike is an attempt to apply sustained pressure on the government to meet their demands. “No one forced them. Two to three students from each college have come forward to sit on a hunger strike,” he clarified, highlighting the voluntary nature of this protest.

The interns firmly believe that the government is unnecessarily delaying the discussion around their stipend, which they argue has not changed in three years. “The recommendation for an increase was made in 2023. Even if we consider that they only began addressing the issue following our strike, eight days have elapsed, and still, there is no order,” asserted Dr. Faraz.

He criticized the government’s reliance on verbal reassurances like “we will look into it in a month or two,” insisting that such promises do not inspire confidence among the interns any longer.

Moreover, he accused the college administration of attempting to intimidate and threaten the protesting interns. “It is unacceptable. We are protesting for our legitimate rights. We will not be intimidated if the college administration tries to silence us through unfair means,” he said passionately.

Dr. Musharaf, another intern involved in the protest, acknowledged that while some discussions with the government seemed promising, no definitive resolutions have emerged yet. “Our subsequent dialogue will continue moving forward, so we will not say that it has entirely failed,” he mentioned.

As the 48-hour hunger strike unfolds, the interns have vowed to chart a definitive course of action based on the developments in their ongoing negotiations. “For now, we are starting a 48-hour hunger strike, and subsequently, we will plan our course of action as things progress,” Dr. Musharaf concluded.