Telangana’s foreign medical graduate (FMG) interns continued their protest for a 17th day on Saturday, demanding stipend parity with eligible Indian medical graduate interns, payment of arrears from January and protection against punitive action linked to their agitation.
The interns are demonstrating at Dharna Chowk near Indira Park in Hyderabad. They are seeking a formal government order or circular that addresses all three demands: equal stipends, clearance of pending dues and safeguards against arbitrary measures, including extensions of their internship or other action connected with participation in the peaceful protest.
Representatives from government medical colleges across Telangana are participating in the agitation. The colleges and locations represented include institutions in Sangareddy, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Mahabubabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Jagtial, Mancherial, Ramagundam, Jangaon, Vikarabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Kamareddy, Rajanna Sircilla, Kumaram Bheem Asifabad, Bhupalpally, Nirmal, Gadwal, Narayanpet, Mulugu, Narsampet, Medak, Yadadri, Kodangal and Quthbullapur.
The representatives said the protest would continue until the state government provides a formal resolution to their demands. Their request for stipend parity concerns FMG interns undergoing compulsory internships at government medical colleges after completing their medical education abroad.
A delegation of FMG intern representatives recently met Telangana health minister Damodar Rajanarsimha in Sangareddy. During the meeting, the interns explained the financial difficulties they said they were facing while completing their internships at government institutions across the state.
According to the representatives, Rajanarsimha assured them that he would discuss the stipend issue with the Health Secretariat. He also invited them to attend a follow-up meeting on Monday, when an update on the matter is expected.
The protest has brought together interns from government medical colleges in districts across Telangana rather than being confined to a single institution. The demand for a written government order remains central to the agitation, with representatives seeking clarity on stipend payments, arrears and protection from adverse administrative action while the issue is being considered.
