Maharashtra agrees to raise MBBS interns' monthly stipend by Rs 7,000; strike called off

The Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI) has withdrawn its strike after the state government agreed to raise the monthly stipend of MBBS interns by Rs 7,000, from Rs 18,000 to Rs 25,000.

The decision was taken at a meeting on Thursday. Education Minister Hasan Mushrif, the principal secretary, the deputy secretary, the commissioner, the director of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) and representatives of ASMI were present.

The agreement is a major gain for the interns' agitation, but ASMI said its remaining demands are still on the table.

According to the association, the Government Resolution (GR) formalising the increased stipend could take one to one and a half months to be issued because of the administrative process.

ASMI general secretary Dr Raman Pawar said: "We had asked for Rs 30,000 a month. But in view of the present drought conditions, we had to make some compromises with the government. Despite these compromises, the issue has been resolved only partly. So our demands for an annual increase of three per cent and a minimum increase to Rs 30,000 a month, at least in the Mumbai region, will remain on the agenda."