Several MBBS interns in Telangana’s private medical colleges have come forward with allegations of non-payment of stipends and systemic intimidation. Despite a 2023 government order mandating a monthly stipend of ₹25,906 for medical interns across both government and private colleges in the State, students say many private institutions are flouting the rule, paying as little as ₹2,000 per month or ₹5,000 in some cases.
Speaking to The Hindu, interns from multiple private institutions detailed disturbing practices employed by the administrations to create an illusion of compliance. At Patnam Mahender Reddy Institute of Medical Sciences, for instance, an intern alleged that ₹25,000 is credited to their bank account every month, only to be withdrawn and ₹20,000 returned to the college in cash. “We are made to open specific bank accounts just for this purpose. It is all a show so they can claim compliance on paper,” said the intern.
When students raised these concerns with the college management, they were told that while stipends could not be paid, the institution would waive bus and hostel fees instead. “But even those promises remain only on paper,” the intern added.
“We work 36-hour to 40‑hour shifts, caring for real patients, often in inadequate facilities and instead of fair pay, we are being extorted and silenced,” said another intern.
