No AC, no water, no lab equipment: ESIC medical college Noida MBBS students strike over poor infrastructure

Noida: Highlighting a lack of basic infrastructure and poor facilities, first-year MBBS students at ESIC Medical College in Noida have gone on strike, demanding immediate action from the administration.

The entire batch of around 50 students has joined the protest. The students claimed that non-air-conditioned lecture halls, especially amid rising temperatures of around 40°C, have made it extremely difficult to attend classes.

One of the students said the lecture halls aren’t air-conditioned, and there are only five to six wall fans that barely function. Due to this, they said that they feel suffocated. 

Also read- Satna's Medical College MBBS students protest demanding basic facilities, cite violation of NMC guidelines

A student told TOI, "We started our classes in Sept and did not feel the heat until summer commenced. Now, in April, when the temperature is above 40 degrees Celsius, it has become suffocating for us. We start feeling dizzy and claustrophobic within an hour. Sitting continuously for seven to eight hours in such conditions is simply not possible. Some of us have even felt on the verge of fainting during lectures."

"It feels like the college has been opened in a hurry without ensuring the essential arrangements," she said. 

Apart from this, students have also raised concerns about the lack of clean drinking water on campus. They claim they have to spend money daily to buy water from outside.

Calling it a basic necessity that has been overlooked, another student said, "We have to buy water from outside every day. It costs at least Rs 100 daily. This is something that should be provided in any educational institution, especially a medical college."

Students further alleged that laboratories for subjects like physiology and biochemistry are not properly equipped which are crucial for first-year medical training. A student said, "Our practical learning is getting affected. We are being taught theoretically, but without functioning labs, it defeats the purpose of a medical education."

Some students also expressed disappointment over choosing the college, pointing out that the annual fee is around Rs 1.25 lakh. "We pay Rs 1.25 lakh per year, which makes it one of the costliest government medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh. I chose this college over other options because it is in Noida and was expected to have better facilities. But the reality is completely different. It feels like we made the wrong choice," she said. 

Despite repeated complaints to the administration, students claim that no substantial action has been taken so far.

However, the college administration has denied the seriousness of the allegations and said steps are already being taken.

Dr Harnam Kaur, Dean of ESIC Medical College, said, "This is not a major issue as it is being projected. The academic block we are currently using is part of the old OPD building, where there was no provision for central air-conditioning. We have already initiated the process to install split ACs, and a fresh tender has now been opened. We expect the installation to be completed within a week to ten days."

She said, "Temporary arrangements have already been made to ensure classes are not disrupted. We have shifted students to our seven-storey ward building, which is centrally air-conditioned, and have arranged proper teaching facilities there, including projectors and seating. All laboratories are fully functional, and drinking water facilities are available. The concern regarding water coolers is related to their placement in residential areas, where unrestricted access could lead to misuse. However, we are in the process of increasing the number of water coolers in designated areas to meet rising demand."

Also read- GMC Haridwar students on indefinite strike alleging lack of basic academic amenities, infrastructure gaps