Maharashtra: MGIMS PG students protest on being deprived of leaves

Nagpur: Post graduate students of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (MGIMS), Sewagram are protesting about the reduction of causal leave from 15 to 8 by the college administration. In attempt to become more effective in pressing for their demand the doctors have joined the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) however, despite student efforts, college authorities and the Kasturba Health Society that runs the autonomous college turning is not recognizing them as a union.

Speaking about an earlier meeting during the winter session of the Nagpur legislature , the MARD President, Dr Amit Singh told the TOI that Medical Education Minister, Girish Mahajan's OSD, as well as state's Director of Medical Education and Research (DMER), Dr Pravin Shingare had assured them of at par casual leaves with the other state government colleges.

"As per the Medical Council of India (MCI), the colleges are expected to follow the state government rules which means we should get 14 days causal leave and 24 days special leave as per rules. But administration through an order dated June 8, 2016 arbitrarily reduced the leaves from 15 we used to get to eight. Administration has refused to accept our request of restoring the leaves. Being a national college there are students who spend 2-3 days travelling to their hometowns. Hence even when we used to 15 days leave, we get to stay with family only for a week or so. This is definitely not right on part of the management," said Dr Singh.

He also spoke of the college prospectus mentioning 15 days' casual and 15 days' earned leave for PG students and the college not following its own word in print.

MARD Secretary, Dr Ehsan Shaikh, told the media that the deputy Registrar Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) had in a letter dated December 16, 2016, urged the Dean, MGIMS to follow the rules of the state government and give the post graduates their granted leave.

"We have met the administration and discussed the issue several times but to no avail. A three-member MUHS team was on a routine inspection to the college on Friday. We put our demands in writing to the team that assured us to forward it to MUHS authorities," he said.

Dr Singh also complained of the MGIMS administration harassing post graduate students by posting them as Casualty Medical Officers (CMO).

"It was only after DMER told the administration in December that college could not appoint PGs as CMOs that the college appointed four CMOs and stopped the old practice. The college ought to follow the Maharashtra Residency Scheme 1996," said Dr Singh.

Dr Singh said MGIMS administration had also harassed the students by posting them as Casualty Medical Officers (CMO). "It was only after DMER told the administration in December that college could not appoint PGs as CMOs that the college appointed four CMOs and stopped the old practice. The college ought to follow the Maharashtra Residency Scheme 1996," said Dr Singh.

Meanwhile, Dean Dr K Patond who also spoke to the TOI shrugged off the matter saying he alone could not decide on matters of leave.

"The decision can be taken only during the governing council meeting that is held twice a year. Next meeting is due in March. Today the students met the MUHS team. We will also submit our report to MUHS," he added.