Ujjain Ayurveda interns lock hospital gates over stipend demands

Hundreds of Ayurveda intern doctors and students at the Govt Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, locked the facility's main gates on Monday to protest for higher stipends.

The protesters are demanding that their monthly stipend be increased from Rs 9,383 to Rs 21,500. They argue that Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) interns perform duties similar to MBBS interns but receive significantly lower compensation. The students stated they would not end the protest until they receive a written order confirming the revised amount.

The gate closure resulted in the suspension of outpatient department (OPD) and inpatient department (IPD) services, causing disruptions for patients and healthcare staff. Prior to locking the gates, the students had engaged in a seven-day sit-in protest, which included a hunger strike, a blood donation drive, and a Sadbuddhi Yagna.