Andhra DME issues guidelines for govt medical college hostels

Vijayawada: Through a recent notification, the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) has issued model guidelines for managing hostels attached to government medical colleges and teaching hospitals in Andhra Pradesh.

Under the new guidelines, activities such as ragging, sexual harassment, intimidation, violence, consumption of alcohol and tobacco, use of intoxicating substances, possession of weapons, gambling, unauthorised entry and damage to property have been prohibited.

Any single purchase or work costing more than Rs 1 lakh from hostel deposit or maintenance funds will require prior approval from the DME. The rules also prescribe disciplinary action against students found guilty of ragging, sexual harassment, violence and other violations.

The guidelines were issued by DME Dr A Vishnuvardhan on Thursday. As per the guidelines, if a student violate any rules, action may include counselling, warnings, recovery of compensation, withdrawal of facilities, suspension for up to 15 days, cancellation of hostel accommodation or expulsion from the college.

Complaints to be addressed within seven working days

Regarding student safety and grievance redressal, the guidelines mentioned that routine complaints must be resolved within seven working days, while serious complaints must be immediately referred to the chief warden and the relevant statutory authorities, wherever necessary.

Any complaints involving ragging and sexual harassment must be reported immediately to the appropriate statutory mechanisms, the guidelines read. In addition, hostel authorities have also been barred from resolving complaints involving serious violations through private settlements.

Water testing and safety inspections made mandatory

To improve hygiene and ensure safe living conditions, the DME has directed that bacteriological testing of drinking water to be conducted every month, while chemical testing in once every six months.

It also directed that water tanks and fire safety equipment must be inspected or maintained once every three months. Hostel authorities must also ensure strict implementation of prescribed food management guidelines.

Accordingly, the new guidelines barred dividing a single work into smaller components to circumvent the approval threshold will be treated as a violation of financial discipline.

Speaking to TOI, DME Dr Vishnuvardhan said, "The new guidelines seek to strengthen financial accountability, student safety, hygiene and discipline in medical student hostels."

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