No money, no transport: BDS students of Government Dental College asked to vacate hostel

Hyderabad: Nearly 42 Bachelor of Dental Sciences (BDS) final year girl students of Government Dental College (GDC), Afzalgunj, have been left in the lurch after the administration asked them to vacate their hostel immediately The administration is planning to accommodate first-year students in the hostel.

The majority of the students staying in the hostel are from other states. The hostel is located on the premises of Osmania Medical College in Koti, while GDC is three kilometers away in Afzalgunj.

77 students joined the BDS course in 2018, Of them, 42 are girls who recently appeared for their fourth-year examination. Their results were declared on February 16. They will now have to undergo a one-year internship as part of their course. After the administration told them to vacate, the students protested, demanding a solution to their problems.

They also wrote to the Dean of the College requesting for solving the issue.

Students blame the Principal:

“There has been no issue for the last 30 years. This year, the issue has cropped up because of Principal Dr. Aruna. Out of 97 rooms in the Osmania Medical College hostel, 12 have been allocated to final-year students. While the students went back home after exams, the Principal put up a notice asking them to return and vacate," said Dr. Md Manzur, president, All India Dental Students Association (AIDSA).

The final-year students will be completing their internship in a month. These rooms will be allotted to first-year students. "On February 22, the Principal called the police personnel. They broke into the hostel rooms, and removed students' belongings", said Dr. Md Manzur.

No transport facility at hostel

Earlier, there was a bus facility provided to the students. That too has been stopped. "We are not sure why they are not providing a bus. It becomes difficult for the students, especially girls to travel during late evenings.", said Dr. Md Manzur.

"Once the internship begins, we have to travel to the hospital daily and do night shifts also. How safe is it to travel to the hospital during late hours? This is again a worrying situation for our parents," said a BDS student.

When News Meter contacted Principal P Aruna, she said: "There is an overlap of batches, and the hostel has not been expanded. Four to five students stay in each room. Interns get a stipend. Therefore first-year students, who come from other places, should get priority.".

She said the government college lacks funds. “There are many issues including a drainage problem. A final-year student is also suffering from TB, and he has requested a separate room,” she said.