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

Haridwar: In protest against basic amenities, the medical students of Government Medical College (GMC), Haridwar, went on an indefinite strike on Tuesday, demanding basic academic facilities, proper hygiene, safety of female students and adequate equipment.

Alleging that the college lacks proper teaching infrastructure and essential amenities, the students submitted a charter of 20 demands to the administration and said they would continue their protest until their concerns are addressed.

Highlighting the issues, the students told TOI that laboratories are not properly equipped and that the hospital and emergency wing are not fully functional. They said only a camp OPD is being run on alternate days, and there are no facilities for investigations, patient admissions, surgeries or a blood bank.

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Apart from academic concerns, students also highlighted poor living conditions on campus. They complained about the absence of drinking water in hostels, poorly maintained toilets, hygiene issues in the mess and irregular garbage collection. They further said that the campus does not have a canteen and faces poor network connectivity.

A student said, "We do not have permission to purchase things online, but teachers can avail online deliveries. The campus lacks a canteen, and the area has poor network connectivity. Even the white coat ceremony – a significant rite of passage for new medical students – has not been held."

According to them, students, especially women, are restricted from going outside the campus. They added that there are no games or sports facilities, and no festival celebrations are allowed on campus

Apart from these, some female students also accused some guards of misbehaving with them. "They enter our rooms and take photographs without our permission," they alleged.

However, the college authorities denied some of the claims highlighted by the students.

Speaking to TOI, Dean and Principal, Dr CMS Rawat, said he was on leave and was unaware of the strike.

Meanwhile, a college official, on condition of anonymity, said, "The problem has been resolved following a discussion with eight student representatives." However, the students said that the strike is ongoing."

Denying claims of lack of teaching facilities, the official said, "All teaching facilities for 200 students, including those in first year and second year, are available in the college. Students are taken to the district hospital, Mela Hospital and women hospital for clinical hospital studies."

He further said, "Only after an inspection by the National Medical Commission, the college was permitted to start enrolling students for first-year courses on Oct 3, 2024, and for the second-year courses in July 2025."

"The campus has no stadium or playgrounds, but indoor games are going to be organised this month. A 300 kg tower of BSNL will be set up within 15 days to resolve poor network issues, and municipal corporation officials are taking steps to regularise garbage collection," he said.

Regarding the poor quality food allegation, he said, "The teaching staff, as well as our dean, are served the same food. Besides, there is a committee of students to supervise the quality."

Despite this, the official admitted that the hospital and emergency wing were not fully functional and that the college was in "a nascent stage". He said only the camp OPD was run on alternate days.

"There is no facility for investigations, admission of patients, surgery and blood bank. These facilities will be added in due time," he said.

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