Displaced students of Churachandpur Medical College held a sit-in protest on Thursday at the COVID Hospital in Kiyamgei, Imphal, highlighting a series of grievances that have plagued their education and living conditions.
Due to the ongoing crisis in Manipur since May 3, 2023, as many as 183 students displaced from the college are undergoing their classes at JNIMS in Imphal.
The protest, which began early this morning, saw students voicing their concerns over the lack of faculty, inadequate accommodation, and insufficient clinical exposure.
The students' primary grievance is the severe shortage of faculty members. Each department reportedly has only one or two faculty members, with some departments having no faculty at all. There are no Heads of Departments, Associate Professors, or Assistant Professors for many departments. Notably, the Department of Pathology, a critical Phase II subject, has no faculty despite final examinations being scheduled for November 2024.
Students have also pointed out that many professors are stationed in Churachandpur, leaving the college severely understaffed.
"One faculty member, especially Senior Residents, is managing both theory and practical classes in Pharmacology and Microbiology, which is unsustainable," said a protesting student, adding "No new faculties have been added despite numerous reports and appeals."
Accommodation is another significant issue with a majority of students not being provided with hostel facilities.
Only a few, primarily ST and AIQ girls of the first batch, are accommodated in JNIMS Girls’ Hostel, and girls of the second batch at SAT, Takyelpat.
The remaining students bear their own expenses without compensation, and hostel fees included at the time of admission have not been addressed.
"Some of us commute daily from home, either by public or private transportation," explained another student, adding, "With the third batch arriving this year, the lack of a proper college campus scatters students across various locations, impacting class attendance, especially during roadblocks or floods."
Clinical postings for Phase II students are largely conducted at Kyamgei COVID Hospital, which often has no patients, resulting in minimal clinical exposure. Students also have postings at Thoubal District Hospital and Bishnupur District Hospital, both of which require long travel times, further reducing effective clinical exposure.
"Clinical postings are not going well. It takes too much time to travel to the hospitals, and we get very little time with patients," said Adarsh, a second-year student.
"At Kiyamgei, there are no patients, and there are many issues like a lack of faculty, especially for Pathology. Only Senior Residents are taking both practical and theory classes," Adarsh added.
Students are demanding immediate action from the government and relevant authorities. They are calling for the recruitment of qualified faculty, improved hostel facilities, and better clinical posting arrangements to ensure adequate patient exposure and practical learning.
"We have been facing these issues for over a year with no solution in sight," one student expressed. "The health minister's responses have not been convincing. We urgently need the government to address these problems, especially with the third batch joining soon. Without prompt action, our education and future careers are at stake," the student said.
The students have also emphasized the impact on their studies, with many struggling to meet attendance requirements due to scattered accommodations and inadequate facilities.
They are requesting that authorities provide a nearby hostel where all students can stay together, facilitating better group studies and project work.
