Chandigarh: The protest by BDS and MDS interns of PU’s Dr Harvansh Singh Judge Institute of Dental Sciences & Hospital over low stipend entered its sixth day on Monday. They were also joined by senate members and representatives of the Youth Congress.
They have received support from Panjab University senior fellow and former MP Satya Pal Jain, additional solicitor general of India, as well. Jain said, “I am taking up the matter with the vice-chancellor for the early resolution of their issues. Doctors should be allowed to work in college and hospitals, and should not be compelled to sit on dharnas. Hopefully, an amicable settlement would be found out soon.”
Nominated senate member Davesh Moudgil also visited the protest site and gave his assurance to the protesters. Moudgil affirmed the interns’ constitutional right to peaceful protest. He said, “You have a right to protest peacefully if something is wrong. It is your constitutional right. There’s no need to be scared. We have to maintain discipline. We are working towards it, and PU is also looking into the matter. You may leave the gate site soon, and PU will listen.”
Negotiations in the matter are underway and a meeting with the PU vice-chancellor was also held on November 4. A 10 per cent hike in stipend for BDS interns was proposed in the meeting. The vice-chancellor had also expressed support to the interns’ cause and recommended a 25 per cent increase in MDS stipend, from Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,500. Additionally, interns were encouraged to participate in the extended scope of the “Earn While You Learn” scheme.
However, the interns decided to continue their protest till their demands were met.
In the 2023-24 budget, over Rs 1.64 crore was allocated for stipends, they said. This covered rotatory internship stipends of Rs 9,000 per month for 100 students, and rs 10,000 per month for 17 MDS students in their first, second, and third years. The protesters argued that this stipend range of Rs9,000 -10,000 has remained the same since 2009, which is significantly less when compared to other institutes in the region. For instance, MBBS interns at the Government Medical College and Hospital receive Rs 26,500, they said.
