Interns, JNIMS students launch indefinite protest in Imphal

IMPHAL — The interns and MBBS students of the state-run Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), ceasing their normal medical activities, launched an indefinite protest in Imphal on Monday.

Demanding revision and enhancement of the stipend for intern students and justice in light of rising admission fees, nearly 800 MBBS students, including 150 internees, staged a sit-in at their JNIMS campus, Porompat, Imphal East district.

“We’re compelled to launch an indefinite protest as the authority has yet to revise the stipend for JNIMS internees, as our current monthly stipend cannot accommodate the daily needs,” said Laishram Lenin Singh, president of the JNIMS Students’ Association.

The state authority has been giving INR 15,120 as a stipend for interns since its implementation in 2015, which the MBBS students described as significantly lower compared to other states. So far, there is no report of any review or revision of the stipend.

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In July last year, the JNIMS authority had proposed an increase to INR 31,500 and submitted a reminder to the state government in July this year.

However, there has been no positive response from the government, according to an active member of the JNIMS Students’ Association.

“We’re planning to continue our protest until our demand is fulfilled,” said an intern currently taking part in the day’s protest.