BJ Medical College Hostels Not 'Liveable', say engineers amid Student Rallies

On October 5^th, 2021, the medicos had marched with empty buckets as a mark of their dissent toward the apathy displayed by the college authorities with regard to the poor condition the hostel buildings.

According to a report from the executive engineer of the project implementation unit, health, family welfare and medical services, Ahmedabad, the hostel building, which has 136 rooms, is about 50 years old and tests need to be carried out on its structural capabilities. A team of structural experts need to be roped in for this and further action should be taken based on their findings, the report reads. The report from the structural experts will take two months during which period the college administration should take up renovation after re-locating the girls to a safer place, it said.

On the other hand, through a statement made by the Junior Doctors' Association toward the college authorities, the students pointed out that the existing facility is lying in shambles and is not 'liveable'. In the same statement, the students further went ahead to bring attention to the fact that there were issues related water availability and drainage problems due to which they had to go without a bath for days together at a time. The students were also at the risk of being electrocuted as the hostel building houses several faulty wires. "In the last fifteen days at least three girls have been injured by chunks of concrete falling off ceilings. One of them suffered a fracture in the leg while another escaped with minor scratches on the hand. A third student also escaped with minor injuries," a hostel resident told Times of India.

Even though the students demand restoration of the existing facility, the college authorities intend to construct new hostels for accommodation of its students.

A senior faculty member, who wishes to remain anonymous, spoke to mediapersons from Times of India and said, "The college authorities have submitted a proposal to the state government for construction of a new hostel as restoration work of the existing facility is difficult."

However, students allege that this proposal has been pending with the state government for the past three years.