Siddipet govt medical students boycott classes to demand basic facilities in their college

Hyderabad: About 300 medical students at Siddipet Government Medical college in Telangana state held a silent protest on Saturday against lack of necessary facilities in their college. The protesting students alleged that their college lack even basic facilities like drinking water and electricity.

The students alleged that they lack transport facilities, insufficient drinking water, basic hostel facilities, proper mess, library facilities etc. Annoyed with lack of appropriate infrastructure students boycotted classes on Saturday to demand basic facilities in their college and hostel premises.

The students even alleged that they are asked to pay an electricity bill even after paying the non-refundable amount. The students also wrote a letter to finance minister Harish Rao as he Siddipet is his constituency.

One of the students with the condition of anonymity said, "we are facing these problems since last one and a half year, but nothing was done to solve our issues despite so many of us complained. Moreover, students have to face pressure from the administration for raising our concerns. One of our major concerns is Non-Allocation of Hostel Accommodation, Detaining students in practical exams, bonds for unnecessary reasons, collection of extra electricity charges even after paying Non-refundable about of Rs 5,000. This month hostel students are asked to pay Rs 460 per head for electricity bill".

Another student said, "We are facing problem regarding safe drinking water. The drinking water that is being supplied in the hostel is currently is by water filters, but water filters are frequently giving problem during power cuts, and we are forced to drink non-purified water. The number of filters available for 325 medical students is not sufficient. We are facing a health issue due to contaminated water. In this regard, we are requesting to provide an RO Water Plant 10,000 litres capacity in hostel premises".

Dr Uma Nagender Vishnu, President of Telangana Junior Doctors Association(JUDA), told Newsmeter, "This is a new medical college in Siddipet. Students have complained that they don't have basic facilities in their college like water and transport. And the shocking part is that students are being asked to pay the electricity bill and also pay diesel bills for transport. We have complained the same to the Director of Medical Education (DME), but DME said that everything is fine in college, but only students are arrogant. We have told the students to continue the protest and students are trying to meet the health minister and finance minister of the state in this regard".

The principal of Siddipet Medical college was not available to comment despite several calls.