Veterinary interns’ stipend protest enters 17th day at SKUAST-K
Seek hike from Rs 6,000 to Rs 23,000, demand written assurance from govt
Srinagar, Sep 23: The protest by veterinary interns of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir (SKUAST-K) over revision of their monthly internship stipend entered its 17th consecutive day on Wednesday at the Shuhama campus.
Under the banner of the Jammu & Kashmir Veterinary Students Association (JKVSA), the interns are demanding an increase in their stipend from the existing Rs 6,000 to Rs 23,000, saying the amount has remained unchanged since 2011 and is inadequate considering their clinical duties, training requirements and expenses.
The protesting interns have also met Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar over the issue. However, they said the demand remains unresolved as the government has not issued any written assurance regarding implementation of the revised stipend.
The interns said verbal assurances were not sufficient and maintained that they would continue their protest until a written commitment was issued by the government.
JKVSA President Saqlain Rashid, speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the government was ignoring the demands of veterinary interns despite their responsibilities in the field.
“If MBBS and other health sector interns can be given a written assurance on their stipend demands, we too deserve the same. Our work is no less important, yet we are being ignored,” he said.
Another intern, Toiba Bashir, said the interns were seeking revision of the stipend, which, she said, had remained unchanged since 2011.
“Our simple demand is that our stipend be revised. It has not been revised since 2011, and it is now 2026,” she said.
Toyiba said the interns were required to travel within the university, to other districts and states and to remote areas as part of their training, while their monthly stipend remained at Rs 6,000.
She said they were seeking parity with veterinary interns in other parts of the country, where stipends at several institutions were above Rs 20,000.
The interns said they would continue their protest until the government provides a written assurance on the revision of their stipend—(KNO)