Ganderbal, Sep 10 (KNS): Budgam MLA Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi on Thursday extended support to protesting veterinary interns and urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government to resolve their long-pending demand for revision of stipend.

Addressing veterinary students protesting at Shuhama, Muntazir said there were around 140 veterinary interns across Jammu and Kashmir and that revising their stipend would not impose a significant financial burden on the government.

He urged the administration to examine stipend norms followed in other parts of the country and revise the payments accordingly.

“They are the first responders. Animals are vectors of diseases, and veterinary professionals are the first line of response in stopping those diseases from reaching human beings,” Muntazir said.

He also highlighted the occupational risks faced by veterinary interns during field duties and said they were often required to work without adequate protective equipment.

“The government should provide them with the necessary equipment. They are not even provided with basic medical equipment or gloves despite being sent for fieldwork,” he said.

Muntazir said interns who suffer animal bites or other injuries during field assignments may also have to bear treatment-related expenses, adding that their safety should be treated as a priority.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

He called upon the government to resolve the issue before the upcoming Legislative Assembly session.

“The government should solve this issue before the coming Assembly session. Otherwise, we will raise the issue strongly in the Assembly,” he said.

The MLA's intervention came as veterinary students from SKUAST-Jammu and SKUAST-Kashmir, under the banner of the Jammu and Kashmir Veterinary Students Association (JKVSA), entered the fourth day of their peaceful and indefinite protest at Clinics Park, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Shuhama.

The students are demanding revision of their monthly stipend, which currently ranges between Rs 6,000 and Rs 9,000.

According to the JKVSA, a formal proposal seeking revision of the stipend has been pending with the Finance Department since 2023 despite repeated follow-ups.

The protesting students have said the prolonged delay has caused financial difficulties and urged the government to take an early decision on the matter.

The students have also raised concerns over the lack of basic protective equipment and support during field assignments.

Muntazir said the government should consider the wider role of veterinary professionals in public health while addressing the interns' demands.(KNS)