Srinagar/ Jammu, Sept. 1 -- The medical interns working in various government hospitals of Jammu and Kashmir went on a strike on Monday and protested in various government medical colleges (GMC) seeking increase in their monthly stipends which the doctors say are the 'lowest in the country'. Hundreds of MBBS and BDS interns gathered in various GMCs of Kashmir and also at Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical sciences, Bemina raising slogans like 'equal work and equal pay' and demanding enhancement in their stipends. "For the past seven years our stipends have not been increased. It has remained at Rs 12,300. We want it to be increased to Rs 30,000. The interns work very hard for the welfare of the patients in hospitals but still they are paid peanuts," said a protesting doctor at GMC Srinagar. "In every other state or UT of the country, the stipends have increased to Rs 25,000 and in some cases to Rs 44,000," he said. The interns working in various health institutions of the union territory are provided a monthly stipend of Rs 12,300. The National Conference government in February had informed the legislative assembly that it has recommended enhancing the stipend from the existing Rs 12,300 to Rs 25,000 per month. But seven months down the line, there has been no increase in the stipends of the doctors. Health minister Sakina Itoo acknowledged that the demand of the interns was genuine, saying that their issue was being processed. "They have met me and we have processed their file. The file has gone to the finance department for its financial implications. It is under process," she said. "The demand is genuine and we are not saying it is wrong as there is too much inflation. There is a need to increase the stipend. The chief minister has also said this. The government is already working on this. They didn't need to go on strike. Going on strike affects the patient-care," she said. The interns have received support from various political parties. J&K Congress president Tariq Karra wrote a letter to the CM seeking his intervention on the issue. Dr Shahnawaz, a protesting intern, said MBBS and BDS interns across J&K had joined the strike over the long-pending demand. The protest affected routine health services at the GMC OPD....