64 MBBS Interns Brave Suspension: A Fight for Justice Over Stipend Denial in Telangana Medical College

The Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences (CAIMS) in Telangana’s Karimnagar district has suspended 64 MBBS interns for a week following their protests over unpaid stipends. The suspension, effective from July 3 to July 10, was issued based on a report from the institution’s disciplinary committee. The notice includes the names of the interns affected, who are expected to resume their duties on July 11.

For over two months, the interns at CAIMS have been protesting, claiming that despite a 2023 Government Order mandating a stipend of ₹25,906 for MBBS interns in both government and private medical colleges, their institution has been disbursing only ₹2,000 monthly. A subsequent G.O. issued on June 28, 2025, increased the stipend to ₹29,792, yet students assert that this amount has not been honored either.

The unrest peaked on July 1, coinciding with National Doctors Day, when interns organized a peaceful protest on campus. Tensions escalated as the college management allegedly called in the police, resulting in confrontations. One suspended intern shared, “We have videos that clearly show the police being rude and aggressive with students who were protesting peacefully.”

Another intern provided insight into the chilling environment within the college, saying, “Anyone who tries to raise their voice individually is threatened with academic retaliation, which could jeopardize our eligibility for NEET-PG. Most of us remain silent. The suspension is a way to crush our collective protest.”

Efforts to obtain a comment from S.A. Asaim, the principal of CAIMS, were unsuccessful. In support of the interns, the Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA) condemned both the suspensions and the alleged aggressive police response. In their statement, JUDA emphasized, “A group of young doctors engaged in a peaceful protest to raise legitimate demands for basic rights and minimum stipends were subjected to verbal abuse, manhandling, intimidation, and threats by a police officer on campus. The harassment continued with college management summoning students, using abusive language, and ordering suspensions.”

JUDA is calling on Telangana’s Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narsimha to intervene, urging an immediate end to the suspensions and accountability for the police and college administration for their roles in harassing students.

This issue extends beyond CAIMS, with similar stipend-related grievances surfacing among MBBS interns in various private medical colleges throughout Telangana. The ongoing protests reflect a broader concern for the rights and well-being of medical interns, drawing attention to financial and institutional challenges within the healthcare education system.

As this situation unfolds, the plight of the interns at CAIMS has ignited a conversation surrounding fair compensation and support for future medical professionals, highlighting the need for immediate systemic reform in the stipend distribution process across the state.

Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/64-mbbs-interns-suspended-at-telangana-private-medical-college-for-protesting-non-payment-of-stipend/article69771973.ece
Category : Telangana
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Publish Date: 2025-07-04 14:18:00