Students hold fort at medical college

Students hold fort at medical college

Sep 2, 2014, 05.40AM IST TNN R. Gokul
Times of India Trichy



TRICHY: There was an air of excitement at the K A P Viswanatham Government Medical College (KAPVGMC) as classes for the first-year MBBS course commenced with renewed vigour on Monday. What is significant about the excitement, especially on the part of the institution was the fact that from this year, the college has been allowed to admit 150 students from the previous years' norm of 100 seats.

On Monday, students from all walks of life with many hailing from rural areas stepped into their new campus. The officials on the other hand are leaving no stone unturned and have formed an anti-ragging committee and a ragging squad to prevent the menace. The first day of the classes was marked with a function in which parents of all the 150 students from many parts of the state and some other states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh participated.

Recently, the Medical Council of India (MCI) had given the nod for the additional 50 seats from this year after a long struggle by the college. Though the MCI had given the approval to increase the seats to 150 from 100 seats in the last academic year itself, the recognition was delayed till few months back.

"We are happy with the recognition by MCI. The college last year itself was given the approval for 150 seats and it was recognised this year. Students from rural areas will be benefitted because of the increase in the number of seats," dean Dr P Karkuzhali told TOI on the sidelines of the fresher's day programme. She also said that the college was equipped with necessary academic facilities as well as accommodation for the students.

Of the total 150 seats, 89 seats were taken by female students while 61 seats went to male students. As many as 22 seats were allotted for all-India quota students.

Likewise, students from rural areas accounted for more than 60% of the total students in KAPVGMC. Karkuzhali said that many students preferred KAPVGMC after Madras Medical College in Chennai. An anti-ragging committee consisting of 15 doctors and a ragging squad with five doctors have been put in place to ensure there will be incidences of ragging in the college.

She also advised the parents to keep vigil on their children even after admitting them in colleges. "Many parents think that their duty is over after enrolling their children in colleges but it is not so. They should keep a watch on their children's attitude and their progress in their studies. The parents should send their feedback in the progress report sent to them," said Karkuzhali.

Dr M A Aleem, vice-principal of KAPVGMC told the students to keep up with the dress code laid down by directorate of medical education (DME). "The students should adopt the dress code prescribed for them. They should also avoid using cell phones during the classes," said Dr Aleem.