Agitated AIIMS Bhopal Students on a Foot March to Delhi

Miffed by the absence of the permanent director at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhopal, two students have embarked upon a foot march to Delhi from Bhopal. Sant Guru Prasad and Chandan Kumar Arya, who started from Bhopal on May 3, reached Dunderi in Ashok Nagar district of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday.

The foot march is being conducted by the two to highlight the irregularities in the administration at the institute. The students alleged that the administration of the institute has been severely affected in the absence of the permanent director for last three years. Professor Madhusudan Nagarkar, who is the director of AIIMS, Raipur, has been given the additional responsibility of the institute. 

Guru Prasad, an intern at the institute, said that the accessibility of the in-charge for the redressal of issues remains a key concern. "The responsibility for overall administration of the institute has been entrusted to the director under AIIMS Act, but this institution of national importance is running without any director. In order to get even the minute problems resolved, we will have to wait for 10-15 days," said Prasad.

He added that the learning of the students on the campus has taken a toll. "The transfer of the MBBS students of 2016 and 2017 batch from residential quarters to the hostel could not take place. Similarly, the institute does not have a 24 x7 library. Even the results of students’ union elections were declared 15 days later, just because the director was not available at the institute," said Prasad.

Parth Deshmukh, another intern at the institute, alleged that faculty posts remain vacant and no recruitment has taken place since last September. The institute is working with approximately 100 teachers, whereas the demand is almost double. Their absence has further affected the studies of 1,100 students. 

The emails sent to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare did not elicit any response until the filing of this report.