THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, January 30: The long-pending revised stipends for Senior Residents (SRs), postgraduate (PG) students, externs and interns of government medical colleges in Jharkhand will be implemented only after the completion of the ongoing civic body elections in the state.
This assurance was given on Friday by Lalit Mohan Shukla, Joint Secretary, Health Department, to a delegation of the Jharkhand Junior Doctors Network (JDN) during his visit to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital (MGMMCH), Jamshedpur.
Model Code of Conduct Delaying Decision
Addressing concerns raised by junior doctors, the Joint Secretary said that the proposal for revised stipends has already been forwarded for approval. However, due to the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct in view of the civic body elections, the government is unable to formally announce or implement the revised rates at this stage.
He clarified that the stipends would be revised once the election process concludes.
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JDN Raises Issue During Inspection Visit
Lalit Mohan Shukla, along with a high-level team from the Health Department, was in Jamshedpur to inspect MGMMCH and review steps needed to improve infrastructure at the institution.
During the visit, a JDN delegation led by state general secretary Dr Raghvendra Kumar met the Joint Secretary and highlighted the prolonged delay in revising stipends for junior doctors and trainees across state-run medical colleges.
Revised Stipends for Senior Residents
At present, Senior Residents in Jharkhand’s medical colleges receive stipends of:
- ₹80,000 in the first year
- ₹82,500 in the second year
- ₹85,000 in the third year
Under the revised proposal pending with the government, the stipends will be increased to:
- ₹90,000 in the first year
- ₹95,000 in the second year
- ₹1 lakh in the third year
Big Hike Proposed for PG Students
Postgraduate students are currently paid:
- ₹54,000 in the first year
- ₹58,500 in the second year
- ₹63,500 in the third year
As per the revised proposal, PG students will receive a substantial hike, with stipends proposed at:
- ₹80,000 in the first year
- ₹85,000 in the second year
- ₹90,000 in the third year
Interns to Get Higher Pay, But Not at Par with RIMS
Interns at MGMMCH Jamshedpur, SNMMCH Dhanbad, PJMCH Dumka, SBMCH Hazaribagh and MMCH Palamu are currently paid only ₹17,500 per month.
After the implementation of the revised stipends, their monthly pay will increase to ₹25,000.
The JDN delegation urged the Health Department to bring interns’ stipends on par with RIMS Ranchi, where interns are paid ₹33,000 per month. However, the Joint Secretary declined this demand.