Interns Protest for Stipend Hike at Rajiv Gandhi Ayurveda Medical College

Mahe: In a one-day demonstration, interns affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital in Mahe, an institution under the administration of the Puducherry government, went on protest recently demanding a stipend hike.

The interns pointed out that Chief Minister N Rangasamy, during his visit to the region to participate in a function at the college, had promised that the stipend would be increased from the present Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 per month for an intern.

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"The assurance is yet to see the light of the day and even the present stipend is not regularly available,” the interns stated in a release. “We hope that the government will implement the promise without loss of time lest the interns should resort to a relay strike,” they said. The interns are from all over the Union Territory of Puducherry and also from Lakshadweep.

Official sources told PTI that the government had promised to enhance the stipend to Rs 20,000 to ensure parity with the amount paid in the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Research Institute in Puducherry. “The file relating to the upward revision of the stipend in keeping with the promise given by the chief minister had been forwarded to the government for implementation,” the sources said.

Rajiv Gandhi Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital (RGAMC & H) was established at Mahe in the year 2010 with the approval of the Department of AYUSH, Govt. of India. This institution is functioning under Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Medical College Society (PKMCS) which is governed by the Govt. of Puducherry. This is the only college in South India which is funded by the Department of AYUSH – Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India.