Living in Slums After clearing NEET! Raipur Medicos Protest Demanding Hostel Accommodation, Rollback of Exam Fee Hike

Raipur: Demanding accommodation for the medical students in hostels and a rollback of the exam fees hike, the medicos at Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College, Raipur, staged a protest during a Doctors Day event, which was attended by the Chief Minister and Health Minister of Chhattisgarh.

They have urged the authorities to complete the long-pending hostel construction while citing the safety and health concerns faced by them to live outside campus.

In a video of the event, which went viral on social media platforms, the doctors could be heard raising slogans "Humaari maange poori karo [Fulfill our demands].

Speaking to the media, one of the students highlighted the problems faced by the students due to the lack of hostel accommodation. He informed that after so much preparation to clear the NEET exam, the students have to pay 10,000 to 15,000 for accommodation. Due to this, several students opt to stay in the slum areas and suffer health issues such as typhoid, dysentery, etc. 

Another student highlighted the safety concerns and mentioned that students from Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh have to stay outside and the authorities do not take any responsibility for where those students stay or what they do. They expressed concern that if something happened to them, neither their parents are there, nor the college was taking any responsibility.

Also Read: PGI Chandigarh Nursing Officers Raise Alarm Over Poor Hostel Conditions

"According to NMC guidelines, every medical college should have a hostel. So, if there is no hostel, the college should make some arrangement. This is the biggest hospital in Chhattisgarh. What is the use of such a big hospital if we are not getting any facilities," said the student, further informing that theyhave to pay fees and along with that, if they have to pay Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 for accommodation, the yearly expenses reach Rs 2 to 2.5 lakh.

The students further informed that they do not get any allowance, even though the authorities claim that allowances are given to the students. The students have also written a letter to the Chief Minister highlighting their grievances.

As per the latest media report by The Hitavada, a critical shortage of hostel accommodation is plaguing Government medical colleges across Chhattisgarh as all the State-run medical colleges fail to provide basic housing facilities to the students. The Daily reported that at Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College in Raipur, altogether 524 out of 820 students (365 males and 159 females) are still without any hostel rooms. Due to this, many of these students have no option but to rent private accommodation by paying between Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 monthly and often have to commute long distances.

Because of this, the students face problems in maintaining punctuality for hospital rounds, focusing on studies, and it also affects their overall mental well-being.

Altogether 492 students from five batches of Pt. JNMMC, Raipur highlighted repeated applications for hostels, lack of response from the Dean’s office, and unaffordable living costs. They also reported poor hygiene, unsafe women's hostels without CCTV, frequent water and power outages, and pest infestations.

Similar issues are being faced by the medicos from other medical colleges as well. Altogether 100 students at Late Baliram Kashyap Government Medical College (LBKMGMC) in Jagdalpur lack hostel rooms and some have no choice but to share single rooms among three people, violating basic safety and dignity standards.

Already, Chandulal Chandrakar Memorial Government Medical College (CCMGMC) in Durg has announced its inability to provide accommodation for the incoming 2025 batch. Almost all students from Late Bisahu Das Mahant Memorial Government Medical College (BDMMGMC) in Korba also have to stay in rented private buildings far from campus despite official claims of "zero pending allotments".

In the case of Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS), Bilaspur, the students complain of severe overcrowding and poor infrastructure. The rooms are reportedly crammed beyond capacity and it affects the hygiene and study conditions of the students.

"Zero" hostel pendency is also reported by colleges including Rajmata Shrimati Devendra Kumari Singhdeo Government Medical College (RSDKSGMC) in Surguja, Bharat Ratna Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Memorial Government Medical College (BRLSABVMC) in Rajnandgaon, Late Shri Lakhiram Agrawal Memorial Government Medical College (LSRAMGMC) in Raigarh, Late Smt. Indira Gandhi Memorial Medical College (IGMGMC) in Kanker, and Government Medical College (GMC) in Mahasamund. However, the Junior Doctors Association (JDA) in Raipur has confirmed these claims as misleading.

According to the students, such "zero pendency" is being achieved by the colleges by delaying allotments for new batches or pushing students into shared or off-campus accommodations.

Commenting on the matter, a resident doctor from Bastar told The Hitavada, "The government has rapidly expanded medical seats under NEET quota reforms, but there’s been no parallel expansion in infrastructure."

"Hostels are not favors. They’re a regulatory necessity. Delay now risks NEET seat cuts and NMC warnings," said a Raipur-based JDA affiliate. 

Referring to the students' protest in front of the Chief Minister, Dr. Rakesh Gupta, Patron of the Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA) at Pt. JNMMC, acknowledged the dire situation and further pointed out how the students' patience has now worn thin.

Dr. Gupta, who is also the head of the CPCC Medical Hall, criticized the Health Minister and mentioned that the minister cared more about appearances and grand events than actual plans and getting ready for the challenges.

Also Read: NMC slams Medical Colleges for Compelling PG medicos to stay in hostel, warns of strict action