India, Aug. 31 -- MBBS and BDS interns across medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir began an indefinite strike on Monday, August 31, demanding that their monthly stipend be increased from the existing Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000.

The interns staged dharnas in Jammu, saying their stipend has remained unchanged for nearly seven years despite repeated representations and protests.

They said the stagnant stipend has failed to keep pace with inflation, rising living costs and the workload they handle in government medical colleges, while interns in several other states receive substantially higher amounts.

Dr Shahnawaz, one of the protesting interns, said MBBS and BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir had joined the strike over the long-pending d...