Interns unhappy with GMC’s order to open accounts with private bank

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 13

The diktat by Government Medical College authorities asking internship students to open their accounts with a private bank has not gone down well with them as they reason that their stipend can easily be disbursed in their already open bank accounts with other banks.

The internship students stated that a majority of them have already opened their bank accounts as they use mobile financial applications to make transactions. “Asking internship students to open accounts with a private bank, which has a requirement of ~5,000 as an initial deposit seems unfair. Most of us have not earned a single penny till today,” said a student.

The students stated that while public sector banks ask applicants to make a minimum deposit of ~1,000 only, private sector banks are asking for more money. The MBBS students have to undergo an internship period as a requirement for completion of their degrees.

During the period of internship, the students also provide services at the hospital, they are paid a monthly stipend as their remuneration. The students said stipend is not paid monthly but the amount of two to three months is usually paid as per the availability of funds.

“It would have been better if authorities had asked for bank details of the interns and used the same to disburse the money,” said another student, adding that the choice of having a bank account should be left with them and the

authorities must refrain from issuing instructions in such matters.