The indefinite strike called by the Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI) in Maharashtra entered second day on June 14.

Around 2,700 medical interns from across the state went on an indefinite strike from June 13, demanding a 40 per cent hike in stipend. A meeting between the ASMI representatives and Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) was held, but nothing has happened so far. There are around 2,500 interns in medical colleges and 200 in dental colleges in the state. Presently, they are getting Rs 6,000 and it is being said that the financial burden, after increasing the stipend by 40 per cent, is going to be over Rs 27 crore, for which
the government is not prepared as of now, sources said.

The interns, besides seeking higher stipend (Rs 11,000), demands fixing of the working hours for interns, sources added. Stipend paid to medical interns in Maharashtra is less as compared to the stipend given in other states like West Bengal (Rs 21,000), Chattisgarh (Rs 20,000), Kerala (Rs 20,000), Uttar Pradesh (Rs 17,900) and Uttarakhand (Rs 7,500), sources added.