MBBS interns of GMC Patiala await 6-month dues

Karam Prakash

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Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 26

Amid the Covid crisis, MBBS interns, who are working round the clock at the Government Rajindra Hospital, have not been given their stipend.

‘Risking lives but not being paid’

We have been risking our lives in the Covid crisis. We have to work for over 10 hours a day during routine postings. Despite performing duties regularly, we have not been given any stipend. — An intern

The interns haven’t got their dues for the past six months. They said they had been risking their lives during the Covid crisis, but had not been paid a single penny since January. An intern said, “We have to work for over 10 hours a day during routine postings. Despite performing duties regularly, we have not been given any stipend.” The interns submitted a memorandum to the principal demanding release of the stipend at the earliest.

‘Issue will be resolved in a few days’

There was some budget-related issue. The file pertaining to the stipend has been sent to the Finance Department. The interns will get paid in the next few days. — Dr Harjinder Singh, Principal, GMC, Patiala

They said they had already submitted all documents of their attendance as demanded by the authorities. The college authorities said the stipend was given to students at least three months after joining the internship. However, this time, there was a hike in the amount of stipend which delayed the release, they claimed.

Notably, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had increased the stipend from Rs 9,000 to Rs 15,000 per month in April.

Dr Harjinder Singh, Principal, Government Medical College, Patiala, said, “There was some budget-related issue which delayed the release. The file pertaining to the stipend has already been sent to the Finance Department. The interns will get the stipend in the next few days.”