FAIMA condemns use of water cannons and force against GMC Bhopal interns demanding stipend hike

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has condemned the police action on Gandhi Medical College (GMC) Bhopal interns staging a protest and demanding an increase in their stipends. Videos circulating on social media reveal that police used water cannons and barricades to stop junior doctors during a protest.

According to media reports, a heavy police force was deployed to stop the interns' march that began from the GMC Bhopal campus.

While trying to control the situation, police locked the hospital’s gate number 2, which leads to the emergency ward, and personnel formed a human chain to prevent the protesting interns from moving forward.

Meanwhile, the senior police team remained engaged in trying to pacify the students. Due to the protest by the interns, there was commotion on the campus and in the surrounding area, a local media report said.

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Junior doctors demand stipend hike

GMC intern doctors staged a protest at the Hamidia Hospital campus in Bhopal, demanding an increase in their stipend. The doctors attempted to march towards the chief minister Mohan Yadav’s residence but were stopped by police, who used barricades and water cannons to block their way.

Media reports suggest that interns are demanding a stipend hike to be raised from Rs 14,000 to Rs 30,000.

“We stand firmly with the protesting junior doctors and support their legitimate demand for a fair stipend. Peaceful protest is a democratic right and must be respected, not suppressed with force,” FAIMA posted on its X account.

The spokesperson of the Indian Medical Association Dhruv Chauhan came out in support of interns alleging injuries caused by police force against interns. He took social media X and said:

“Fracture, multiple injuries, eardrum perforated with Water cannons and public humiliation: The cost that the Doctors in Madhya Pradesh had to pay for their peaceful protest for a stipend.”

J&K MBBS interns demand stipend hike

The intern doctors of Jammu and Kashmir have been on strike for the past eight days, demanding the CM’s intervention in the long-pending demand for an increase in the monthly internship stipend. The interns currently receive Rs 12,300 per month and are demanding that the stipend be raised to Rs 30,000 per month.

As per ANI report, an intern doctor said that in 2023, it was proposed that the hike would be implemented, and a committee was formed. But since then, there has been no discussion or implementation of our stipend. It is high time that the state takes action, she added.

Uttar Pradesh: Stipend hike for interns

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by chief minister Yogi Adityanath approved rotating internship allowance for MBBS and BDS students to Rs 25,000 per month from Rs 12,000 medical colleges.

In 2021, the Uttar Pradesh government had increased the stipend to Rs 12,000 from Rs 7,500.