Medinirai Medical College Students on strike demanding Principal's resignation over alleged Harassment, Career Threats
Palamu: The medical students at Medinirai Medical College are on strike, demanding the resignation of their principal, who has been accused of harassing the students and threatening to ruin their careers.Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the students had accused the principal of making inappropriate remarks to the female students and creating a hostile environment on campus. It...
Palamu: The medical students at Medinirai Medical College are on strike, demanding the resignation of their principal, who has been accused of harassing the students and threatening to ruin their careers.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the students had accused the principal of making inappropriate remarks to the female students and creating a hostile environment on campus. It was alleged that the principal had also imposed a strict prohibition on any interaction between male and female students.
The latest controversy started when a female student was made to wait outside the hostel gate for one hour at night for coming late from duty. While the hostel has a strict no-entry policy after 9 PM, the concerned female student was on duty at the medical college hospital, which is very far away from the hostel campus.
After being made to wait outside the hostel gate for one hour, the student was allowed inside only when the students started protesting about the issue. This allegedly led to an argument between the students and the principal, Dr. Jaideep Kumar Chowdhary, the Co-Chairman of Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), informed Medical Dialogues.
In the video, the Principal could be seen threatening the students to ruin their careers, while the students could be heard pointing out the lack of infrastructure and facilities at the medical college and how the students are unable to appear in the PG examination due to the delayed academic calendar.
According to the students, there is no water in the boys' hostel, and there is a lack of electricity. They also could be heard saying that their entire year got wasted because of the delay in conducting exams.
Speaking to Medical Dialogues regarding the issue, Dr. Jaideep Kumar Chaudhary said, "Five to six months back, he was appointed as the principal of MRNMCH, Palamu, and since then, he has introduced many such systems which were violating the regulations of the college."
He informed that the principal faced controversy when he installed CCTV cameras near the girls' washroom. The principal had also prohibited meetings between male and female students, even when the parents explicitly expressed that they had no objections to such interactions. It has been alleged that the principal had also ordered the SDO of Palamu to raid the students' hostel to harass and humiliate them. There was also a strict dress code imposed by the principal for the female students.
"He would sometimes abuse some of the students, who would protest these things. In fact, one of the non-academic JR was asked to leave the college... for trying to help the students," added Dr. Chaudhary.
Referring to the viral video, where the principal could be seen threatening the students, Dr. Chaudhary informed that the incident took place on Monday. "A girl intern was stopped at the college entrance because the hospital is 5kms away from the medical college. She was returning to hostel after duty at night. So, the guard stopped the student," said Dr. Chaudhary, adding that there is a strict rule that nobody should be allowed in or out after 9 PM.
"She was standing at the gate for straight one hour. She was not allowed. Even when the principal was asked by the students, he said that she would not be allowed to come in. After their protest, she was allowed to come in, and after that led to an agitation."
He also informed that yesterday the students met with the DC, Palamu and submitted every letter of support from all around India. From today onwards, the students are on strike, boycotting their duties. RIMS, JDA is supporting the students actively and every other RDAs in other medical colleges are also supporting these students, who are demanding the removal of the principal from any administrative post.
The students are also demanding basic amenities, including water supply, lift facilities for 8th floor, 9th floor buildings, air conditioner in the medical college lecture halls, cabins etc.
FAIMA Writes to Jharkhand Health Minister:
Expressing solidarity with the Medinirai Medical College students, FAIMA has written to the Health Minister of Jhakhand, requesting for immediate action against the misbehavior and administrative harassment of the students of MRMCH Palamu.
The association mentioned in the letter that the allegations made by the students against the MRMCH Principal are not only inhuman but also hurt the dignity of a respected field like medical education.
It further mentioned in the letter how the students were humiliated regarding academic demands and they were threatened as well. Allegedly phrases like "tum sabko dekhte hai kaise pass karoge (Will see how you all will pass)", "tum log sab centre mein setting kar lete ho (You people make all arrangements at centres", "Career barbaad kar denge (Will ruin your career)" etc. were used by the Principal.
"This type of behavior is completely inappropriate, unprofessional and comes under the category of mental harassment. When the head of a medical college adopts such language and attitude, it has a profound negative impact on the education, mental health and self-esteem of the students," FAIMA's letter mentioned, whole demanding immediate action from the State Health Ministry to ensure that "no student in any corner of the country becomes a victim of administrative dictatorship."
FAIMA has demanded a fair and independent inquiry into the behaviour, appropriate disciplinary action against him for threatening and insulting students, ensuring that no administrative officer uses unethical, dictatorial, or abusive language with the students, and setting up a student grievance redressal committee in all the medical colleges of the State.
"FAIMA fully stands with the students of MRMCH Palamu and if necessary, medical students and doctors from all over the country will be united to provide support on a large scale," read the letter.
