Srinagar, Sep 12: Srinagar Lok Sabha Member of Parliament, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, expressed solidarity with the protesting veterinary interns at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology – Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shuhama campus.
Joining the students at their protest site, the parliamentarian urged the Jammu & Kashmir administration to address their long-pending demand for a monthly stipend hike without delay.
The veterinary interns, under the banner of the Jammu & Kashmir Veterinary Students Association (JKVSA), have been staging a peaceful protest at SKUAST-K campus for last six days. Demanding parity with veterinary interns across other parts of the country, the students highlighted that their current monthly payout—fixed between ₹6,000 and ₹9,000—has remained unchanged for years despite inflation, demanding a revision to ₹20,000–₹23,000.
Addressing the gathering, MP Ruhullah emphasized the crucial role played by veterinary professionals as first responders in public health.
“The right to a dignified stipend and safe working conditions is fundamental,” Ruhullah stated, emphasizing that the young medical and veterinary professionals should not be forced onto the streets or face institutional pressure for raising legitimate concerns. He questioned the Rs 6,000 stipend being paid to the students, saying those who had spent years studying should not be expected to work for such an amount.
Ruhullah also raised the issues of medical interns and reservation, saying an elected government should listen to the people who elected it. He asked the Agriculture Minister to meet the students and said he would wait for a day or two for the department or higher authorities to engage with them.
“Agriculture Minister is a good person, I know him and he has been my friend adding that I am sure he will connect with the students”, Ruhullah said. “ If that did not happen, he said, he would involve more people and amplify the issue.
The MP promised to continue advocating for the welfare of the student community and raise their grievances forcefully if the administration fails to act promptly.
