At BJ, saftey is a PJ

Ticker leading to the headline: Last October, twoKashmiri youths were detained for illegal stay at BJ Medical College hostel.You would like to think it was a wake up call for authorities. Nope. The newhostel blocks are even more unsafe

*The new hostel is located in a slum area, 4 km from the college

* Anybody can get in since guards do not check ID cards.
*A month ago, local goons barged into the hostel with weapons and threatened students

* Cellphone worth Rs 40,000 stolen from hostel room

Authorities of BJ Medical College have still not learnt their lesson. After a fire broke out in the one of their hostel rooms last October, police had detained two Kashmiri youths who were found to be staying illegally in a room allotted to an undergraduate doctor.
Following the security lapse, college authorities had announced that they would make ID cards compulsory for hostellers. But four months down the line, security at the hostel is just a damp squib. Safety still remains a huge concern for junior doctors, particularly those residing in the new hostel blocks located in the middle of a slum area in Asarwa.

These hostel blocks, at Ghoda Camp, are about four km away from Civil Hospital and lack proper security measures. In fact, the college authorities have even violated MCI regulations by setting up a hostel that is neither on hospital premises nor college campus.

REPORTER THREATENED

On a couple of occasions, the students have been threatened by local goons and expensive items stolen from their rooms. When this correspondent visited the new hostel recently, she was confronted by local ruffians in front of the security guards who chose to look the other way. A photographer accompanying her, however, managed to get into the hostel without being questioned by the guards.

That same night, when Mirror photographers visited the hostel, they were chased away by gamblers playing cards in front of the hostel. This time, too, the security guards did not move an inch.

GOONS ENTERED HOSTEL

Rajesh Shah, a second year MBBS student, will never forget the nightmare he experienced on his birthday a month ago. When he and his friends were dancing away to music in the hostel, a group of slum-dwellers, all sloshed, entered the hostel with sharp weapons and threatened them.

“We accept that the music was loud and may have disturbed people. But that does not give anybody the right to barge into our rooms and threaten us. The incident took place in the presence of security guards who watched on helplessly. Later, they told us that they had tried to stop the goons, but could not. What kind of security is this?” said a junior doctor, studying in second year.

CELLPHONE STOLEN

“Since the hostel is located in a slum area, the college should tighten the security and introduce necessary checks. But despite our complaints, nothing has been done,” said another doctor.

A few days ago, a cellphone worth Rs 40,000 was stolen from a student’s room. “Anybody can enter the hostel and flick anything they come across since nobody stops them. This is dangerous for both life and property,” said another junior doctor.

VIOLATION OF MCI RULES

Also, according to Indian Medical Council, it is mandatory to build hostels inside college and/or hospital premises. But the authorities have violated the rule by building the hostel about four km from BJ Medical College. According to Establishment of Medical College Regulation’ by MCI, it is stated that in nine cities including Ahmedabad, the hospital and the medical college can be set up on two separate plots of land at a distance of not less than 10 km. But it also states that hostels and library has to be built on any two pieces of land, and can’t be outside the premises.

“The hospital should be on one piece of land and the building of the college including library and hostels for the students, interns, PGs/Residents, nurses may be housed on any of the two pieces of land with well-connected road and free transportation facility for the students,” states Clause 2.

However, the hostellers use either their personal vehicle or the autorickshaw to go to the college. Though there is a shortcut behind the hostel, students refrain from using it. About a month ago, Ramesh Rajput, a first year student, walked down the deserted road at night because he did not find an autorickshaw. A local snatched his wallet and cellphone at knifepoint. 

‘WE HAVE NOT YET

GOT A COMPLAINT’

Dr Nitin Voda, president of Gujarat Medical Council said that the hostel cannot be outside college or hospital premises. Asked why the hostel was allowed in a slum area when it is in violation of rules, he said, “I am not aware of it and since it does not fall under my jurisdiction, I cannot comment on it.”

A senior college official said on condition of anonymity, “We had such issues long ago, but not anymore. Also, we have not received a written complaint. Besides, it is compulsory to show the ID card to get into the hostel.”

When the reporter said that Mirror photographer got into the hostel without even being asked for identity proof, the official said, “We ourselves take stock of security at the hostels. I do not know how such a lapse happened. But I will look into the matter.”

When asked about the violation of MCI rule, the official said, “The new hostel is for temporary accommodation. The students will be shifted to the main hostel once the construction is over.”  The photos, however, reveal a different story.

 BOX

LOOPHOLES IN SECURITY

*Security guards are unarmed, indifferent

* ID cards are not checked

* Anybody can enter the hostel

* The boundary grill is broken

* The entry gates remain open at night