TIWN June 24, 2021
AGARTALA, June 24 (TIWN): With the long-pending demands of stipend rise, the Agartala Govt Medical College Interns Doctors sat in protest on Thursday which has affected the hospital services. Along with a stipend hike, the Doctors also demanded a slash in the fee structure for the Medical students in the College. It can be mentioned here, AGMC is the only Medical College which is run by Govt and only academically brightest and filtered students get admission through National level Entrance examinations but their demands remain unfulfilled and only Rs. 18,000 is given to the interns whereas fees are too high. Shockingly, it has been revealed that a Medical Student has to pay Rs. 5 Lakhs to become a Doctor even though they get admission through national level entrance exam. Earlier also various protests were staged by the interns of previous batches but the State Govt did not fulfill the demands of them.Â
"Other states are increasing stipends for students but in comparison to our College fees, our stipends are very less", said another agitating Doctor.
He further said that a total Rs. 5 lakhs they have to pay in this College for fee purposes, even though it's a Govt Medical College. Now, the stipend has been hiked from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 48,000 but it is not enough whereas other states are raising stipends heavily. Most of the students in AGMC are poor. Govt must reduce fees also. In AGMC, fees are higher in comparison to other states' colleges.
"We are entering this College after national level examinations. We have to pay Rs. 2 lakhs in the first year also and to complete the degree it takes over Rs. 5 lakhs. So what is the meaning of all hard-work and cracking national level exams ?", said the AGMC Intern Doctors.
PGT Doctors also joined the protest with the interns.
Stipend demands for first year has been raised : 65,000 (first year), 70,000 (2nd year), 75,000 (3rd year) and also more for interns.
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