MBBS interns in Nagpur get Rs 100 stipend a day; 7-day protest put on hold in hope of solution

NEW DELHI: The MBBS interns of Lata Mangeshkar Hospital Nagpur and NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences, who have been protesting for stipend increment, have decided to put strike on hold in hope of a solution. Nearly 140 MBBS interns were protesting against a meagre salary of Rs 100 per day.

The interns of batch 2017 initiated a strike on August 22, 2022, demanding increment in salary, free accommodation of the interns and electricity waiver. In the absence of response from authorities, the interns staged a protest.

A letter addressed to the dean of Lata Mangeshkar Hospital Nagpur and NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences stated that they are conditionally pausing the protest for the next 15 days. The decision to resume work was taken after the authorities gave them a verbal assurance to table their demands to relevant authorities, the letter said.

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“The 15 day pause of our agitation shall be conditioned over the hope that the college shall admit our demands with topmost priority, enabling a quick, swift and amicable decision over the same,” it said.

We interns of LATA MANGESHKAR HOSPITAL, sat on strike demanding rise in our stipend which is currently 3k less than minimum wages given to a labourer..
100 रुपये मजदूरी है,
ये हडताल जरूरी है |#peacfullstrike #justicefordoctor#stipend pic.twitter.com/YjxKNcvAF1 pic.twitter.com/uapHgbpjio

— Ashutosh Ade (@AdeAshutosh) August 22, 2022

The students group further said that they haven’t paid hostel fees for which they have been charged heavy dues and fines. Requesting for clearance of fine and a quick solution to their demand, the interns have put a halt to protest.

In a similar incident, MBBS interns in Bihar government-run medical colleges were also protesting demanding a hike in their monthly stipend from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000.