Ragging, 'third-button rule', beatings, 36-hour shifts: Shocking conditions alleged at Sagar's Bundelkhand Medical College
Ragging
Sagar: A shocking culture of ragging has recently been reported from Bundelkhand Medical College, Sagar, where first-year MBBS students are allegedly humiliated inside the hostel. An investigation by Bhaskar has revealed a disturbing picture of juniors being harassed, assaulted by seniors and pushed into extreme mental stress.
According to the junior students, the hostel environment is deeply troubling. They alleged that seniors have created a strict hierarchy that juniors are forced to follow. For the first six months, they must follow the “third-button rule”, meaning they must keep their eyes fixed on the third button of their shirt or on their shoes while walking.
They also claimed that they are made to wear the same set of clothes for 24 hours. If they raise their head or make any mistake in tasks assigned by seniors, they can be slapped 100 times or more.
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The juniors further alleged that the seniors often call them at night, especially after drinking, and force them to stand in lines till 4 or 5 AM. They are made to answer questions, do physical tasks and face punishment if they fail. If one junior makes a mistake, the entire batch is beaten.
A first-year student, speaking anonymously, told Bhaskar, "Juniors must greet seniors anywhere they encounter them. Clothing cannot be changed inside the hostel. Often, seniors—especially when intoxicated—call juniors at night and force them to stand in lines until 4–5 AM. They are made to perform various activities and punished if they fail to answer questions correctly. Even if one junior makes a mistake, the entire batch is beaten."
Because of this allegedly harsh ragging, some students have even suffered eardrum injuries. But such incidents never come out publicly and remain confined within the hostel walls.
“This has become a tradition in many medical hostels,” said the student.
Apart from the ragging, the reported living conditions in the hostel tell another shocking story. The students describe the place as extremely dirty and unorganised. Stray dogs reportedly enter the mess area and eat leftovers from the same plates students use.
Meanwhile, the junior doctors have also alleged that they are subjected to 32 to 36 hours of continuous duty.
The junior doctor added that they are pushed like labourers, forced to work continuous shifts of 32–36 hours. During these long hours, they handle everything-from angry attendants to medical emergencies-while senior consultants leave after OPD hours. In critical cases, juniors are blamed in reports, while senior faculty never show up even during patient deaths, reports Bhaskar.
Among them, the female PG students suffer the most from the 36-hour shifts as they have to work constantly during menstruation. Despite the hectic working conditions, the doctors claimed that they are denied even basic hygiene facilities.
A third-year PG student said "Washroom conditions are unbearable. A single washroom is used by PG students, nursing staff, guards and other employees, resulting in extreme filth and persistent infection risk."
In response, Dr. Kuldeep Gupta, President of the Junior Doctors Association (Madhya Pradesh), said the situation calls for immediate attention. He emphasized the need for proper counseling cells in every medical college.
He recommends mandatory monthly counseling for each student to identify mental health issues early, provide treatment confidentially, relay student concerns to administration.
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