By Our Staff Reporter
Haridwar, 10 Jan: The protests against the plan to operate the Government Medical College in Haridwar in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode show no signs of stopping, as students have continued their demonstrations for several days.
This morning, the medical students heading to Dehradun to attempt talks with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in this regrd were stopped by the police before they could leave the college premises. Reports add that the main gates were closed by the College administration to prevent the students from leaving the premises. During the protests held today, the condition of a female student deteriorated. The students also allege that the services of the driver of the bus they had booked for the trip to Dehradun have been terminated by the college administration.
It may be recalled that the students of Haridwar Government Medical College are staging a dharna in the college campus by boycotting classes for the third consecutive day.
Speaking to the local media persons here, today, Rangil Singh Raina, Principal of the Government Medical College, claimed that the college administration has been able to convince the students to remain calm for now. This evening, the district administration and several officials also met the students to address their concerns, where the students presented their doubts to the administration.
The protests have garnered significant attention from the local media and the general public, putting pressure on the administration to address the students’ demands.
The college administration has assured that they are taking steps to address the students’ concerns and are in constant communication with them to find a resolution.
Meanwhile the question arises why the government is announcing establishment of one medical college after another in the state when it is not in a position to run these itself. The students are protesting against the proposed shift of the Government Medical College to PPP mode, which they fear could lead to increased fees and reduced quality of education.
