Medical college interns in Madhya Pradesh blocked a road and staged a sit-in protest in Bhopal on Tuesday, demanding that their monthly stipend be increased from Rs 14,337 to Rs 30,000.

The protesters also sought compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh for interns allegedly injured during police action on Monday, when junior doctors demonstrating outside the government-run Hamidia Hospital were dispersed using water cannons.

Interns Return To Streets After Monday’s Police Action

The latest protest followed demonstrations by junior doctors at the gate of Hamidia Hospital on Monday.

Police used water cannons to disperse the protesters, prompting allegations of injuries among interns.

On Tuesday, medical interns again took to the streets in Bhopal, raising three key demands: an increase in their monthly stipend, compensation for those allegedly injured during the police action, and action against the policemen involved in the alleged violence.

The protest led to a road blockade and sit-in in the Kamla Park area, disrupting traffic, according to eyewitnesses.

Interns Cite Low Stipend Despite Course Fees

The interns’ delegation said Madhya Pradesh has 3,655 MBBS interns studying in government and private medical colleges, including 2,055 in government medical colleges.

According to the protesters, the annual fee for the MBBS course is around Rs 1 lakh, while interns receive a monthly stipend of only Rs 14,337.

They argued that the existing stipend does not adequately reflect the financial burden of medical education.

The delegation also claimed that MBBS interns in Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Gujarat and Rajasthan receive higher stipends despite relatively lower course fees.

Hospital Services And Traffic Affected

The protest affected traffic in the Kamla Park area as interns sat on the road to press for their demands.

The earlier protest at Hamidia Hospital also disrupted outpatient department services, causing inconvenience to patients.

The demonstrations have brought renewed attention to the stipend paid to MBBS interns in the state and the circumstances surrounding Monday’s police action.

Government Says Discussions Underway

Deputy Commissioner of Police Ayush Gupta told PTI Videos that discussions were underway regarding the demands raised by the interns.

Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, who also holds the Health portfolio, said positive discussions had taken place with the protesters.

Shukla told reporters that he was also in touch with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav over the matter.

He said serious and positive discussions had been held on both major issues, the demand for a stipend increase and the police action during Monday’s protest.

The matter was expected to be discussed again later in the evening, he added.

Inquiry Ordered Into Water Cannon Use

Meanwhile, an inquiry has been ordered into the use of water cannons during Monday’s protest, an official said.

Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar has directed the probe, citing the seriousness of the matter.

Tuesday’s demonstrations kept the spotlight on the interns’ twin demands for a substantial increase in their monthly stipend and accountability for the police action against protesters.

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