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Anti-quota stir hits medical services in city
MEDICAL SERVICES at the Sir Sunderlal Hospital were thrown out of gear on Monday when undergraduate and postgraduate students of the Institute of Medical Science-Banaras Hindu University observed a daylong strike. They were protesting against the proposal to reserve seats for other backward classes in Central institutions. Sources said medical students might go on an indefinite strike from Tuesday.
MEDICAL SERVICES at the Sir Sunderlal Hospital were thrown out of gear on Monday when undergraduate and postgraduate students of the Institute of Medical Science-Banaras Hindu University observed a daylong strike.
They were protesting against the proposal to reserve seats for other backward classes in Central institutions. Sources said medical students might go on an indefinite strike from Tuesday. The medicos boycotted all medical services, including emergency, out patient department (OPD) and intensive care unit (ICU).
Medical students took out a march from IMS gate, under the banner of the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA). The processionists raised anti-government and anti-reservation slogans. They decried the recent lathi-charge on medical students in New Delhi and Mumbai.
The students offered prayers at Durga Temple, Manas Mandir and Sankat Mochan Temple. They also held a meeting at Sankat Mochan Temple and said the Central Government’s proposal would adversely affect academic standards in the country.
“Enhancing reservation from 22 per cent to 49.5 per cent in Central Government-funded higher academic institutes would have an adverse impact on the entire education system of the country,” said students.
“Why does not the government reserve Congress Working Committee membership, the Prime Minister’s post, or jobs in the defence services?” asked the agitated students.
They said medical and engineering courses were the backbone of the education system in India. Enhancing reservation in these areas would increase frustration among meritorious students across the country, they said. “It was very unfortunate that instead of abolishing the caste system, the government is contemplating to enhance reservation even after 55 years of Independence,” said agitated students, adding the move would widen social disparities. The students alleged that Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh had made the proposal to serve political interests.
