Renovate all MAMC hostels, ensure fear-free atmosphere on campus, CM tells officials

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday issued several directions to the departments concerned after meeting students from Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) at the Secretariat. She asked the Public Works Department to immediately start renovating all the existing hostels and expedite the construction of new ones, and instructed officials to ensure night-time safety of students by installing high-wattage LED street lights, increasing the deployment of security personnel and ensuring 24×7 CCTV surveillance.

The interaction was held four days after Ms. Gupta, along with Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena and Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, attended a meeting called by the MAMC Dean to discuss concerns about accommodation and security of students and doctors.

Debris from a ceiling strewn on beds inside a hostel room on the MAMC campus.
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SPECIAL AARANGEMENT

During the meeting, the students informed the CM about the dilapidated state of hostels, poor lighting, illegal encroachments, and shortage of security personnel. Women students, in particular, raised concerns regarding their safety, said an official.

‘Extremely cramped’

A statement by the CM Office stated that the seven hostels constructed since the establishment of the college were meant for 1,200 students, whereas over 3,200 students currently reside in “extremely cramped” conditions, with up to eight beds in a room, shared cupboards, and no provision for basic amenities such as study tables.

Ms. Gupta expressed “grave concern over the severe negligence and lack of accountability on the part of previous governments”, the statement added. “It’s appalling to see the poor state of such a prestigious institution like Maulana Azad Medical College and the condition of the students studying there,” it also quoted the CM as saying.

MAMC students reside in ‘extremely cramped’ conditions, with up to eight beds in a room, read a statement by the CM Office.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Ms. Gupta told the students that her governmentstands with them.

“Students of prestigious institutions like MAMC are our future, and we will extend every possible support to them,” she said.

‘Will visit soon’

The statement said that Ms. Gupta had directed officials to submit progress reports every 15 days and that the CM had told the students she would visit the campus soon to inspect the situation, “engage directly” with them.