Medical students in T.N. demand hike in stipend

They came to work wearing black badges

Flagging their concerns on being among the lowest paid in the country, post graduate (PG) medical students and medical interns across the State wore black badges to work to put forward their demand to increase stipend. Coming under the banner of Resident Doctors Association, Tamil Nadu, the interns and PGs staged a peaceful demonstration by wearing black badges to work without affecting routine services on Monday. Their main demand — to increase stipend for non-service PGs, super speciality doctors and interns, also known as CRRI (compulsory rotatory residential internship). “Tamil Nadu is the best in healthcare. But we are the lowest paid in the country. We work hard but are underpaid. Nearly all PGs are above 25 years, and many are married. Those working in cities suffer a lot. We are not asking for more pay but pay on par with other States in the country,” M. Keerthy Varman, president of Tamil Nadu Medical Students Association.