Maharashtra: ISMR, Satara, students refuse to call off strike

The Directorate of Medical Education and Research(DMER), Director,Dr. Praveen Shingare met students of the Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Satara, at Azad Maidan where they have been on a hunger strike since March 1. The students have been demanding to be shifted to other Private Medical Colleges .Dr. Shingare was there to convince them to call of their hunger strike, However the students said they would withdraw their agitation only, if an assurance was given to them in writing about their 'demand fulfillment'. Two students participating in the hunger strike were shifted to GT hospital following weakness and dehydration.

Admissions of 95 students from the 2014-15 batch came under dispute after the college lost Medical Council of India (MCI) and Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) recognition in 2014. The management however, did not reveal this to the students and went ahead to collect Rs 3 lakh in the form of tuition fee and security charges. The students allege that they came to know about the college not having been granted recognition two days prior to first year finals, when their hall tickets did not arrive.

The Medical Council of India and the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences had refused recognition to the college and the student admissions as they had been done based on the Association Combined Entrance Test instead of the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test.

A fine of Rs 20 crore was also imposed on the college, but the State government paid it to provide relief to the students. The first year students have been at a loose end since May 2015. They travelled to Mumbai after protests in Satara proved futile.

Dr. Pravin Shingare told the Hindu “We have made a lot of progress since December last year. The government has paid off the fine. You [IMSR students] will be getting your provisional admissions [to other colleges] soon. This may take another 10-15 days. Please call off the hunger strike to take care of your health. Nevertheless, you may continue your silent agitation.”