Maharashtra MBBS Interns Demand ₹30,000 Monthly Stipend As State Proposes Hike To ₹25,000 Amid Pay Disparity

Maharashtra medical interns are demanding a monthly stipend of ₹30,000, despite the state government proposing to increase it to ₹25,000. This request comes as the stipend they currently receive, Rs 18,000, is less than half of what interns in West Bengal and Odisha receive, which are Rs 44,000 and Rs 40,000 respectively. State Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif assured the interns that a proposal for the ₹25,000 stipend would be presented to the state Cabinet for consideration.

However, the interns are pushing for a higher amount, citing the extensive workload and responsibilities they bear while providing patient care in government medical colleges and hospitals. The demand for a higher stipend has also been raised by interns working in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) medical colleges. During a recent meeting with senior BMC officials, the interns, along with representatives from Medivision Mumbai and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), cited legal and financial provisions under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, to support their demand.

The BMC administration has assured the delegation that a final decision would be made after Diwali, following consultations with its legal and financial advisory committees. While the proposed increase to ₹25,000 would provide some relief to the interns, it would still fall short of the stipends offered in West Bengal and Odisha.