Latest news with #CAIMS
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- The Hindu
Stipends still unpaid as 64 MBBS interns remain suspended by Telangana private medical college
The Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences (CAIMS), a private medical college in Telangana's Karimnagar, is facing criticism from students and medical associations after suspending 64 MBBS interns who were protesting over unpaid stipends. The interns, who have been demanding rightful payments for over two months, were suspended for a week starting July 3, allegedly for blocking vehicles during a protest on campus. While the college claims the action was based on a disciplinary committee's findings, the students allege it is a retaliatory move aimed at silencing dissent. The suspension order, issued on July 3, stated 'The following interns of the institute are suspended from their duties for a period of one week with effect from July 3 to July 10. They have to resume duties on July 11.' However, the students claim the administration has continued to withhold stipends even after the suspension and is now threatening them with stricter duty schedules once they return. 'If protesting is wrong, why doesn't the college first comply with the Government Order and transfer our stipends?' asked another intern. Attempts by The Hindu to reach S.A. Asaim, principal of CAIMS, for comment went unanswered. As per a 2023 Government Order, MBBS interns in Telangana, whether in government or private medical colleges are entitled to a monthly stipend of ₹25,906. A revised order issued on June 28, 2025, further increased the stipend to ₹29,792. Yet, students at CAIMS allege they are being paid only ₹2,000 per month, in violation of these mandates. The issue has now drawn national attention. The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has written to the Chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC), urging immediate intervention. 'There are 23 private medical colleges in Telangana where interns are deployed in affiliated hospitals. Despite repeated directives, most of these colleges continue to underpay interns. Some are even collecting ₹5,000 per year as a so-called 'stipend fee' and then paying only ₹2,000 monthly,' FAIMA stated. The association has demanded an inquiry into the events at CAIMS on July 1 and called for disciplinary action against those responsible for suspending the interns. It also urged the NMC to ensure that no intern is denied a completion certificate or subjected to academic harassment for participating in peaceful protests.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
64 MBBS interns suspended at Telangana private medical college for protesting non-payment of stipend
The Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences (CAIMS), a private medical college in Telangana's Karimnagar district, has suspended 64 MBBS interns for a week following protests over the non-payment of government-mandated stipends. The suspension order, issued on July 3, lists the names of 64 interns and states that the action is based on a disciplinary committee's report. 'The following interns of the institute are suspended from their duties for a period of one week with effect from July 3 to July 10. They have to resume duties on July 11,' the notice reads. The interns at the college agitated for more than two months, alleging that despite a 2023 Government Order (G.O.) mandating a stipend of ₹25,906 per month for MBBS interns across both government and private medical colleges in Telangana, CAIMS has been paying only ₹2,000 per month. A revised G.O. issued on June 28, 2025 further increased the stipend to ₹29,792, but students say the new amount is also not being honoured. The suspension comes in the wake of a protest organised on July 1, National Doctors Day, when a group of MBBS interns staged a peaceful protest on campus. The college management reportedly called in the police, leading to a scuffle. 'We have videos that clearly show the police being rude and aggressive with students who were protesting peacefully,' said one of the suspended interns. Speaking to The Hindu, another intern said, 'Anyone who tries to raise their voice individually is threatened with academic retaliation which would make us ineligible for NEET-PG. So most of us remain silent. The suspension is a way to crush our collective protest.' Attempts by The Hindu to reach S.A. Asaim, principal of CAIMS, for comment went unanswered. In response to the incident, the Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA) has extended support to the protesting interns and condemned both the suspension and alleged police aggression. In a statement, JUDA said, 'A group of young doctors engaged in peaceful protest to raise legitimate demands for basic rights and minimum stipends were reportedly subjected to verbal abuse, manhandling, intimidation, and threats by a police officer on campus. The harassment continued with college management summoning students, using abusive language, and ordering suspensions.' JUDA has urged the Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narsimha to intervene demanding immediate revocation of the suspensions, and disciplinary action against both the police officials and the college administration for their alleged role in harassing students. The issue of non-payment of stipend is not limited to CAIMS alone. Similar complaints have emerged from MBBS interns at several other private medical colleges across Telangana.
