Bengaluru: Students of BSc allied health sciences (AHS), who are undergoing internship at Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI), protested on campus Wednesday, demanding a stipend.AHS students are required to undergo one year of compulsory internship after three years of study. “During this period, interns perform full-time clinical duties, including night shifts, and actively contribute to patient care, often working for 8-12 hours. Despite these responsibilities, no stipend is being paid to us, which is causing significant financial and mental stress,” the students alleged.
“Interns are also denied govt hostel facilities, forcing them to stay in costly private accommodation. In addition, govt-mandated provisions, including separate faculty, adequate infrastructure and dedicated academic buildings for AHS courses, are not being properly implemented,” the protesters claimed.In a press note, the students said in other govt institutions such as Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Sanjay Gandhi Institute and Jayadeva Institute, AHS interns are paid stipends.BMCRI officials said even though AHS students are not entitled to stipend, they have already written to the govt, backing their cause. Principal Asima Banu said: “We have been giving excellent facilities to students, including labs and libraries. Giving stipend is a policy decision the govt has to take, for which we have already written to them. Protesting on campus just leads to disruption of classes, which is not a healthy trend.“
