Speaking on the issue, an intern told Medical Dialogues that almost 145 students who got transferred are demanding stipends considering their hard work and dedication during the pandemic.
"We have approached several authorities with our demand but no step has been taken yet. We can't go on a strike to press our demand because all of us do not go to the same institution. So, we have to rely on the mercy of the government to get our legit stipend. We were transferred to different colleges following the instruction of the High Court. We were grasping at straws to get ourselves transferred to other facilities. Now that we have to serve an internship under adverse circumstances, we should be paid the stipend also," he stated.
"Some of us were admitted under the government quota, yet we paid the amount as suggested by the authorities. However, this is high time that government takes note of our demands also. We have served the public no less than other interns during the pandemic. We have also risked our lives, lost our sleep. At a time like this, when initiatives are being taken by the government to compensate the hard work of COVID warriors by awarding incentives, our services should not get ignored by the government just because we are transferred students", added the intern.
Earlier, in view of certain deficiencies including that the institution i.e. Annaii Medical College and Hospital had no full-fledged 300 bedded hospital and other required buildings, the Essentiality Certificate already was cancelled. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare gave approval for the establishment of a new Medical College at Pennalur in the name and style of Annai Medical College Hospital and Research Centre and medicos were admitted in the institution under the government quota and management quota.
While conducting an inspection for giving recognition to the said College for the second year, erstwhile MCI observed lapses and declined to recognize the College for admitting the students for the academic years 2017-18 and 2018-19.
Hence, the aggravated students approached Madras High Court, with a prayer to take over the responsibility of the students already admitted in the Annai Medical College and Hospital after which the High Court directed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to pass necessary orders of increasing the number of seats in Government Medical Colleges and approve the accommodation of students in the 22 Government Medical Colleges functioning in the State of Tamil Nadu. The Director of Medical Education had also stated that the fee was fixed at Rs.3.25 lakhs per annum per candidate for the students of Annaii Medical College and Hospital for the year 2016-2017 as per the Fee Fixation Committee.
The High Court also clarified in an order issued on 2018 that all the students of Annaii Medical College and Hospital that the candidates while completing their MBBS course, they could be treated as a non-stipendiary candidate during their Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship period and they were not eligible to claim stipend during their internship period. Moreover, they would not be eligible for transfer to other Medical Colleges during the internship as in the case of other Government Medical College students.
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