Medical students stage stir for infrastructure

Times of India, July 31, 2015
BHAWANIPATNA: Students of Sardar Rajas Medical College at Jaring in Kalahandi district started an indefinite agitation from Thursday, demanding filling up of faculty positions according to Medical Council of India (MCI) norms.

At present, part-time faculty members take classes. The college also lacks laboratory and library, sufficient number of doctors, operational hospital and administrative staff.

The MCI allowed admission in 100 seats in the medical college in 2013-14, but cancelled it in 2014-15, citing inadequate infrastructure.

Challenging the MCI order, the college authorities filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court. In 2014, the apex court allowed admission in the medical college with immediate effect. While directing the MCI to visit the medical college within three months, the court told the college authorities to fulfill necessary infrastructure requirements based on MCI suggestions.

In February 2015, the MCI's fact-finding team visited the college for verification of facts and documents submitted earlier. The team submitted its report to the MCI but did not reveal anything about their findings.

Around 24 students (first year) of second batch of the medical college, who took admission in 2014-15 (academic year) on SC's order are now facing the same problems their earlier batch faced. The students have sought government's intervention. The administrative official of the college could not be contacted for his reaction.

Collector (Kalahandi) Brundha D said the health department has been apprised of the students' problems. "We have intimated the different issues of the medical college to higher authorities," she said.