Maharashtra has become the first Indian state to pay a stipend to its Physiotherapy students. Delighted by the news, the Indian Association of Physiotherapists (IAP) say the move has given 'a ray of hope' to students considering physiotherapy as a profession.
The state government on Tuesday decided to pay stipend at par with dental surgery assistants to post graduate students of the physiotherapy and occupational therapy courses at Government Medical College (GMC), Nagpur.
Dr Bhatikar, general secretary, IAP said: "We have been after the central government to pay a stipend for physiotherapy students. It is a welcome news that Maharashtra has become the first state to do so. We hope rest of the country will follow suit."
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed that the stipend would be paid to post-graduate students from this month itself. The state Cabinet took the decision in its meeting held on Tuesday morning.
The post graduate students studying at GMC in Nagpur are given admissions through the Common Entrance Test, along the lines of other medical courses. This course is for the duration of three years and students treat patients as part of their training during their internship, but not as an emergency service.
They are required to work for 8 to 10 hours, which is the reason the state has decided to pay the students at par with dental surgery assistants. They will now be paid a stipend of Rs7,000 and a dearness allowance of existing rates.
Dr Bhatikar said that demand for physiotherapy has increased in leaps and bounds, therefore stressing the 'urgent need' for a central council. "We have presented our demand to the Centre several times, but nothing has happened. The council will streamline ethics and standardise the treatment as well. With the new government at the Centre, we are trying hard to get this resolved," added the doctor.
