Nalanda Medical College: Seats increase, but hostel still cramped

Patna: The Nalanda Medical College seat increase without appropriate infrastructural facilities, has led to Junior doctors threatening to go off work in the absence of electricity and water supply for the past 6 days, in the hostel at Agamkuan. TOI reports that the problem is attributed to the increase in the number of seats from 41 to 75 for the current session 2017-2020 of PG, but no new hostel was constructed for the students.

The students who have been facing day to day living problems in the hostel had also been confronted with a similar conflict last month, which resulted in them being asked to vacate the hostel, meant to actually be a married nurses accommodation. However, the administration later decided to retain them in the lodging, till a suitable alternative was found.

Dr Ravi Ranjan Kumar Raman, Member, NMCH Junior Doctors' Association, said that students were up against odds due to the ongoing problems, and were finding it difficult to carry out their hospital duties.

Dr Shikha Rowlak, Ist year PG student complained of both mental and physical harassment. "This issue has made it difficult for us to deal with our hospital duties. This is the sixth time that we are facing blackout this year. They had promised us an alternative accommodation but it did not materialize. What will they do when a new batch comes in March next year?" she told TOI.

NMCH Superintendent, Dr A P Singh said the hostel had been provided with electricity during Chhath by the electricity authority, "But after the festival, they cut the supply again. I will request the officials concerned to allow power supply till a rented accommodation for the PG students is arranged."

He further elaborated that a meeting between the hospital administration and health department's Principal Secretary, R K Mahajan about the problem, had the latter recommending private accommodation for students near the hospital campus on rent.

The Health Department's promised 300-bed hostel that had to come up on campus, has still to see the light of day, he told TOI.