After big uproar, AIIMS is finally having a virtual convocation this year

New Delhi: After showing strong opposition to the plan of holding virtual convocation for passouts of AIIMS, the doctors of the prestigious medical institute have finally agreed for the same, after receiving assurances from the director Dr Randeep Guleria

The Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have agreed to attend the 47th convocation being held by the institute on Monday after the director, Dr Randeep Guleria, assured them of conducting a physical convocation in the future as well.

"Dr Guleria promised that the batches called for the virtual convocation will also be invited to the physical convocation whenever it is organized. We agreed to his assurance and would now attend the convocation without any agitation," said Dr Adarsh Pratap Singh, president, AIIMS' RDA.

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The RDA had earlier opposed the administration's decision of conducting the 47th convocation virtually and had written to the institute's director demanding that the January 11 event be held physically in small batches with all Covid-19 precautions, outside the Jawahar Lal Nehru (JLN) Stadium.

It had warned that if the demand was not met, the RDA members would be forced to boycott the convocation and hold a protest on the day of the event.

The RDA had demanded the convocation should be organised to be participated physically as it was pending for more than two years and holds a profound importance in a student's life.

"The resident doctors have been waiting for this convocation to happen for a very long time now. AIIMS has pass-out batches every six months, but they have to wait over a year for convocation. Residents doctors worked day and night throughout their residency and amidst Covid-19 pandemic, but when the time of convocation came we were being asked to attend it virtually which was very disappointing and disheartening," Singh had stated.

"Not having it in physical form will dismay us profoundly and will break our motivation and trust in the administration. We believe that with all the infection control norms being followed during the ceremony, we can have a special physical convocation for the residents awaiting their special moment for so long," the RDA said in the letter.

It demanded a convocation to be held in physical form in small batches with all COVID-19 precautions and in a big auditorium/stadium be booked to convocate all batches at a time. They further said the convocation needs to be held timely so that there is no waiting of two years for the hard-earned degree.

The 47th convocation would be attended by the Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, who is also president of the central government-run institute.

Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director for South-East Asia, World Health Organisation (WHO), is invited as the chief guest to the event. Meanwhile, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State (MoS) for Ministry of Health & Family Welfare MoH&FW) would join there as the guest of honour

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