Medical students of SIMS, Hapur, are on hunger strike to protest against allegations of irregularities in stipends and violation of privacy by the management.

Medical students of Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, went on hunger strike to protest against the university authorities following allegations of irregularities in the distribution of allowances and moral harassment.

Talk to Education time, Dr Muzakkir Ahmed, resident doctor and intern at SIMS, said, “We are sitting at the main entrance of the college and planned to remain seated until our request is heard. We are also observing a hunger strike starting today. Our college management came to visit us once and they will announce their decision soon.

Earlier, the students had written a letter to the college authorities, citing mental harassment, insufficient stipends, privacy violations and excessive fines imposed on the college.

“So far, the principal has mentally harassed many students by threatening them to fail the exam. The college has unnecessarily introduced fines, because of which we want his resignation. The stipend decided by the Uttar Pradesh government is a minimum of Rs 12,000 as stated by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, so the interns want the stipend to be at least Rs 12,000 per month. There has been a violation of privacy due to the cameras installed in all the hostels, whether girls or boys, and to make matters worse, the camera feed of the girls hostels is available to everyone, c This is why we demand the removal of cameras from every hostel. Hostel timings for interns and PGs should be flexible and the library should be open 24 hours so that they can study well. Unnecessary fines are being imposed on several students,” said a letter from the students to SIMS management.

At the same time, according to college authorities, the protest is creating a hostile environment for patients and their families staying at the hospital.

“Students have harassed and defamed the institution, management and main office on social media and in the media in general. It is in the best interest of your child and the institute if he or she stops participating in the strike. Otherwise, the college will have to take strict legal action,” specifies a letter from SIMS, dean (academics) addressed to the parents of the students.

The students claimed that the principal refused to meet with them, forcing them to continue the strike. Dr Lakshya Mittal, national president of the United Doctors Front, told Education Times: “The dean of the Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences is threatening parents of students via email saying he is in the best interest of their child to stop the protest. otherwise, the college will have to take strict legal action. First year students are advised to refrain from any strikes. The dictatorship of these private medical colleges must end and immediate action must be taken against them for violating the right of expression and the right to protest.