The rape and murder case at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has exposed a major crisis in the top government medical colleges of West Bengal. After this case, complaints of administrative irregularities have come to light in many medical colleges. Students have made allegations ranging from political connections to a culture of threats and intimidation, to bribery and favoritism in the examination system.
Complaints and allegations
According to an Indian Express report, serious allegations have been made in at least seven of the top 20 medical colleges in the state in the last one month. According to the complaints, students who refused to pay the bribe were deliberately threatened with failure. Students who did not pay bribes to the West Bengal Medical Council were not registered, and some students were deliberately given low marks during house staff selection. Some students were even forced to serve the party.
The incident started after the arrest of Sandeep Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, who was accused of irregularities. Apart from these, serious allegations have also come to light in reputed institutions like North Bengal Medical College, Midnapore Medical College, Burdwan Medical College, Rampurhat Government Medical College, Kalyani College of Medicine and MJN Medical College.
meeting Mamta Banerjee
On September 16, a delegation of junior doctors met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and lodged complaints regarding these irregularities.
Government action and investigation panel
Following these complaints, the state government and individual colleges constituted investigation panels at their own levels.
5 students at North Bengal Medical College have been suspended for 6 months and have been barred from entering the college premises or hostels.
The investigation panel at RG Kar Medical College has found guilty of 40 out of 51 doctors who were accused of threatening.
40 students at Kalyani’s College of Medicine and JNM Hospital have been suspended for 6 months.
Inquiry panels have also been constituted in MJN Medical College and Midnapore Medical College.
Government level measures
The state government has constituted a five-member committee to curb the “bullying culture”. Besides this, the health department removed BMCH Dean of Students Welfare Tapash Ghosh and Nupur Ghosh has also been transferred. The health department has also set up a grievance redressal cell, where health professionals can register their problems.
Doctors claim: The problem is very deep
Many doctors believe that this problem in medical colleges is not just superficial, but it is deeply rooted. A junior doctor alleged that some doctors associated with the youth wing of TMC force students to participate in cultural and non-cultural programs. If students do not participate, they are threatened with failure or poor marks.
It is clear that the culture of irregularities and intimidation is deeply rooted in the medical colleges of West Bengal. The government and the college administration have ordered an investigation, but until these problems are resolved, the question will remain whether the medical education environment will be safe and fair.
