Strict dress code imposed in Telangana Medical Colleges

Hyderabad: In a bid to maintain discipline and uniformity among staff in government, all medical students at a government medical college in Telangana have been asked to strictly maintain a dress code policy during college and duty hours. 

The regulations prohibit jeans, t-shirts, casual wear, shorts, one-piece dresses, slippers, and clogs. Male students are directed to adhere to a formal dress code, including shirts, trousers, and black leather shoes, while female students are expected to wear kurtis and salwar kameez with a mandatory dupatta, and a ban on tights and sleeveless garments.

A circular was posted on the noticeboard of the government medical college, instructing the students to strictly follow the dress code. This dress code aims to maintain a professional and uniform appearance among the students, reflecting the college's values and standards.

Also read- DMER Directs Doctors, Staff Of All Institutes To Maintain Dress Code, Warns Of Strict Action Against Violators

The purpose of this circular was to uphold discipline within the college and highlight the significance of wearing attire that covers the shoulders and knees. It recommended loose-fitting clothing for comfort and as a gesture of respect towards the local culture, particularly considering the rural hospital setting.

In contrast, certain colleges in the region permit the use of jeans, but with specific conditions. Female students can wear jeans only when paired with a kurta, while male students face certain restrictions.

The purpose of the dress code is a subject of debate, with some senior doctors suggesting it aims to segregate first-year students for scrutiny against ragging, while others perceive it as moral policing.

A student speculates that these regulations may be influenced by the fact that government medical colleges primarily cater to the local population in rural areas. Furthermore, there is an encouragement for students to wear shoes, particularly in light of their visits to the dissection hall within the college premises. 

However, the regulations regarding dress codes are not only limited to government medical colleges but also extend to private medical colleges, where similar rules are enforced.

According to The Hindu news report, a distinct dress code is enforced by a private medical college in Hyderabad, where male students are expected to wear off-white safari suits, while female students are required to wear green kurtas and grey salwar. The medical college has also made white apron mandatory for the students along with their undergraduate identity cards displayed as part of the college’s uniform policy.

Talking about the matter, a student of a private medical college in Hyderabad told the daily, “When we are on hospital duty, the college insists that we wear formal clothes. If a student wears jeans, they are asked to be professional.”

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that all doctors of Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH) and Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) were asked to maintain a dress code of a white apron mandatory within the campus.

Doctors, including interns, postgraduate students, senior residents, assistant professors, associate professors and professors were directed to wear a white apron while discharging duties at OPD, wards and other places. In addition to doctors, the hospital staff were also required to adhere to the dress code as per the direction of the medical superintendent of PMCH.

The decision was made after Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on May 4 launched ‘Mission Parivartan’ on the lines of ‘Mission 60 Days’ to improve the health of all medical college hospitals.

Also read- PMCH, NMCH Makes White Aprons Mandatory For Doctors