New wing delayed, Stanley students struggle

Garbage dumps in the corridors and elsewhere, overflowing drainage, broken cupboards and staircases, and the building itself so badly damaged that the inmates fear that it could even collapse. The men’s hostel at Government Stanley Medical College Hospital is a tale of neglect and indifference, which is causing serious inconvenience to the students who are residing there.

According to the residents, the college authorities have failed to lend an ear to their repeated pleas for over three years to carry out maintenance and repair works.

“Though the hostel rooms should be provided with study table, cot and cupboards, we are not given any such facilities. We had to buy cot and bed at our own cost when we joined the hostel. The maintenance is not undertaken regularly, and our complaints have not been attended to,” said G Raghul, a student resident.

The drainage system needs to be revamped as the adjoining roads are on the same equal as the drains, which is leading to sewage overflow. The students also allege poor facility at the college mess, which lacks enough seats, proper drinking water and is not properly electrified.

“We do not receive drinking water continuously. We were told that we would be shifted to new buildings soon, but the move does not seem to be coming,” said Krishna, another student. Former resident staff said on condition of anonymity that the old buildings, including at few other residential blocks, need to be demolished. However, the medical college authorities have not responded to the requests from the hostel wardens.

Dozens of students are undergoing the ordeal despite a new hostel building is near-complete. When asked, the college authorities have in turn blamed the Public Works Department for delaying the construction of the new buildings.

“We are constructing three new hostel buildings for men, women and senior resident staff, each with a capacity of 300 each. We will demolish the old buildings which are not fit to be used further. The students will be shifted by the end of this year,” said Dr Ponnambala Namasivayam, Dean, Stanley Medical College.