Dehradun – To draw more medical professionals to its far‑flung districts, the Uttarakhand Cabinet has unveiled a new salary framework for resident doctors and demonstrators attached to state‑run medical colleges. The revised scales add a location‑based premium for postings in the hilly belt, where chronic staff shortages have long hampered public health services.

Senior residents enjoy a sizable boost

From today onward, senior residents posted in the mountains will be paid Rs 1.10 lakh per month, up from the earlier Rs 90,000. Their counterparts on the plains will see their remuneration rise to Rs 1.05 lakh, an increase from Rs 84,000.

Junior residents see their wages rise as well

Junior residents serving in hill stations will now draw Rs 85,000 monthly, a step up from Rs 76,000. Those stationed in the low‑lying areas will have their salary lifted to Rs 80,000, compared with the previous Rs 71,000.

Demonstrators’ pay adjusted similarly

The cabinet extended the same differential to demonstrators. In mountainous assignments, their monthly earnings will climb to Rs 85,000 (previously Rs 76,000), while demonstrators on the plains will receive Rs 80,000 instead of Rs 71,000.

Why the extra compensation?

Officials say the higher remuneration for hill‑area posts is designed to make these assignments more appealing, thereby closing the persistent vacancy gap in Uttarakhand’s public hospitals. The uplift is also expected to improve retention of residents in medical colleges, strengthening both patient care and academic output.

Current staffing figures reveal that the state’s government medical colleges employ 251 junior residents, 246 senior residents, and 134 demonstrators. The salary hike will translate into a noticeable increase in monthly earnings for each group.

Tackling the doctor shortage

This move comes amid ongoing worries about insufficient doctor numbers in public health facilities, especially in the high‑altitude districts where many departments operate below sanctioned strength. By offering a financial incentive, the government hopes to persuade more physicians to accept or continue hill‑area postings, easing the strain on understaffed hospitals.

Among 23 other proposals covering development, education, governance and public services, the salary revision was highlighted as a key step toward fortifying Uttarakhand’s healthcare delivery system.