The ongoing protest by intern doctors in Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, reached its third consecutive day as students intensified their demand for a stipend revision. With the striking doctors refusing to back down without a concrete agreement, outpatient department (OPD) services at major government medical colleges remained completely suspended. However, to ensure that critical patients do not suffer, healthcare authorities confirmed that emergency and trauma care services are functioning normally across all affected institutions.
Demand for Written Assurance on Rs 30,000 Stipend
The primary grievance of the intern doctors centers around their monthly compensation. At present, interns receive a stipend of approximately Rs 14,337 per month, an amount they argue is severely inadequate considering their working hours and living costs. The medical students are demanding an immediate hike to Rs 30,000 per month. Emphasizing that verbal promises have proven ineffective in the past, the protesters have maintained that the agitation will continue until the state government issues an official written confirmation approving the revised stipend amount.
Demonstration Near CM House and Severe Traffic Disruptions
Taking their grievances to the streets, the protesting interns staged a sit-in at the Kamala Park area, located merely 100 meters away from the Chief Minister's official residence. The road blockade led to widespread traffic congestion that lasted for several hours. Senior police and administrative personnel rushed to the spot to negotiate with the students and clear the thoroughfare, but the protesters stood their ground. In response, security was stepped up, turning the vicinity into a heavily guarded zone. Authorities eventually managed to open one lane of the road, though vehicular movement remained extremely slow between Polytechnic Chouraha and Retghat.
Anger Over Police Action, Water Cannon, and Alleged Lathi Charge
Tensions escalated further over reported police actions during Monday's demonstrations. Protesting students accused the police of using water cannons and launching a lathi charge against peaceful marchers, resulting in injuries to several medical interns. The doctors are demanding an immediate and impartial inquiry into the conduct of the police officers involved in the action. Additionally, they have called for appropriate compensation for injured students and an official apology from the government regarding the high-handedness of the security forces.
Senior and Junior Doctor Associations Extend Support
The protest has gathered significant momentum as broader medical organizations have stepped in to support the interns. The Junior Doctor Association (JDA) issued a call to halt OPD operations in government healthcare centers across the state. Furthermore, Rakesh Malviya, State President of the Medical Association, confirmed that senior doctors at Hamidia Hospital, affiliated with Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal, will also boycott OPD duties. Despite the disruption to routine services, medical representatives reiterated that emergency care would remain fully operational to safeguard critically ill patients.
Ongoing Talks with Health Minister as Impasse Continues
Efforts to resolve the standoff are currently underway, with government officials engaging in continuous dialogue with representatives of the striking interns. While the students firmly insist on a written commitment guaranteeing the stipend increase from Rs 14,337 to Rs 30,000, administration representatives expressed optimism that a resolution would be reached soon. Senior police officers, including Bhopal Additional CP Shailendra Singh Chauhan, remain on site to oversee law and order. For now, the intern doctors maintain that their strike will persist until all formal demands are satisfied.
