The students of the Hi-Tech Medical College here are on a stir for the last three days against the apathetic attitude of the management to their genuine demands.
The students alleged that classes were not conducted regularly in the institute due to inadequate teaching staff. While there is no regular teaching staff, the MBBS classes of Pathology, FMT and Microbiology are somehow managed by temporary tutors. Even many departments have been running with one visiting professor for last two years.
Besides, they charged that the condition of the laboratories and hostels is deplorable. Though Rs 100 is charged towards their food per day, very low quality food is being provided, they rued.
When contacted, principal in-charge Dr Prafulla Mishra said the issues have been reported to the management and very soon, steps would be taken to sort them out.
Source said while the students’ resentment has increased due to the festering problems in the institute, even there is a groundswell of anger and disappointment among the employees for having not got salary for the last four to six months and deprived of ESI and EPF benefits.
It may be mentioned that the Hi-Tech Group was provided free land and Rs 10 crore by the Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) to open the college and hospital in the steel city. But since its inception, the institute has been courting controversies for one reason or the other. Meanwhile, the students demanded the State Government to take over the management of the institute.