Students Complain of Inhumane Conditions at Manipal Teaching Hospital

Pokhara. How long can 8 people stay in a cramped room without a good window? An hour? 2 hours? Or all day? Believe it or not, students of BSc at Manipal Teaching Hospital spend 4 years in this very room.

Students have complained that the college administration, despite charging hefty fees, is cramming them like sheep and goats without even considering basic human rights.

Students of BSc Nursing have raised questions about the poor management of the hostel and the underground classrooms. They stated that up to 8 students have to stay in a single cramped room in the hostel.

'8 people are accommodated in a room meant for 2. There is no ventilation in the room,' they said, 'After complaining repeatedly, a net has been installed on the window. We are treated like sheep and goats.'

One student complained that the college is treating them inhumanely. 'I don't even feel like staying in the room. It's hard to breathe,' she said, 'We even go to the roof to sleep at night. There is no environment to study here. We are being treated very inhumanely.'

Students have complained that their duty shifts are different, so their sleeping and waking times do not match. They expressed their sorrow that the college did not provide any information to the students before admission and crammed them into the hostel all at once after admission.

'It's not for 2-4 days, we have to spend 4 years in this room,' said another student, 'We also submitted a request to the college administration. But it was not heard.'

After their verbal complaints were not heard, they submitted a request with collective signatures to the Principal on Baisakh 13.

'We told them many times. The Principal Madam replied that the seniors also stayed like that, so you should also adjust,' the students said. The college has also increased the food fee without informing them.

Initially, the food fee was set at Rs 6,090, but within three months, it was increased to over Rs 7,005. 'The food is neither tasty nor has it improved from before. We are forced to pay,' the student added, 'There is no room to question why this was done. We are being exploited, and the concerned bodies should monitor this.'

They said that most rules are added as mandatory. Along with the hostel, there are problems with the classrooms as well. The classroom is in the basement of the hospital, and the hostel is on the fifth floor. 'We have to study for 6-7 hours a day in that basement, relying solely on ordinary tube lights for 24 hours,' she continued, 'It is very difficult because there is no air circulation.' There is a complaint of discrimination between MBBS students and nursing students at Manipal. However, they complained that the college is ignoring it. 'No matter how much we say, there is no improvement. If we ask for improvement, they dismiss us by saying it's like this,' they say, 'There is a world of difference between MBBS students and nursing students.'

Kaski's Chief District Officer Rudradevi Sharma has pledged to monitor the situation immediately. She stated that a committee would be formed for immediate monitoring and investigation. 'This is a very sensitive issue. Once such a serious complaint is received, the administration will monitor it immediately,' she says, 'A committee will be formed for this. Necessary instructions will be given to correct the shortcomings.' Kaski-2 MP Uttam Prasad Paudel has also said that he will coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Health immediately. 'Hearing such things is painful, how must it be for those experiencing it? It is the college's responsibility to provide students with facilities as per the agreement,' he said, 'Tomorrow itself, I will talk to the Ministry of Education and Health and ask them to send an inspection team immediately. This is a matter that requires immediate action.'

Paudel pledged to take initiative to guarantee the students' right to study in a peaceful and undisturbed environment.

Meanwhile, the college chairman, Narayan Paudel, claimed that the accommodation arrangements are made according to the fees paid by the students. He said that the issues that have surfaced are not true. 'First of all, one needs to understand the hostel. One needs to know how much fee they pay, how many people stay, and what the size is,' he said, 'We have arranged accommodation according to the amount they have paid. We provide what they seek in terms of facilities.'

He added that the college could provide additional facilities if students are willing to pay the fees. 'We will provide even if only one person wants to stay, but they have to pay the fee. We have not violated the rules,' he added, 'The university conducts inspections. We have to be able to answer, and we have done so.'

Previously, Manipal College, which was run by an Indian company, has been operated by Pokhara businessmen since 2078 BS. This college has been in operation since 1998. The Indian company, which had a 49-year agreement, exited midway and sold it off due to perceived insecure investment.