The medical college, which started functioning in 2022, has just two batches of students.
On Monday, 18 March the college witnessed its first protest by the students alleging verbal abuse and harassment by the Principal Dr RL Lakshman Rao. (Supplied)
Students of the government-run medical college at Bhadradri Kothagudem in Telangana have complained against the principal, accusing him of verbally abusing and harassing female students.
Refuting the charges, Principal Dr RL Lakshaman Rao said he was concerned about the students and hence tried to impose a dress code.
The students said Dr Rao took umbrage at their night dress in the hostel and repeatedly asked if their mothers, too, were wearing the same dress. He also objected to their removing chunnis (shawls) during yoga sessions.
“I am wearing a night dress in the hostel, the principal asks if my mother is also wearing the same clothes at home,” a female student said.
The students said the principal started to overtly control them ever since they joined the college. “He questions us on what we wear, what we do, where we go, and whom we are talking to,” a female student told South First.
The students requested anonymity, fearing reprisal. They held a protest on Monday, 18 March.
The students said Dr Rao wanted them to stay back in the college after class hours.
“Our classes are from eight to four, but the principal asks us to stay back for an extra hour to do physical exercises and engage in games. But, there is no playground. Half of the students walk to the hostel six kilometres away in this summer heat,” a student said.
The student also alleged that they were not allowed to take off their chunnis during yoga classes. “He questions us for removing the chunni. His comments are always about our dress. How can someone expect to wear chunni during the yoga session,” she asked.
The students also said that the principal made them uncomfortable during dinner. “It’s our dinner time, and it’s our space where we are relaxed and comfortable with our dresses. But he comes at the dinner hour and asks if we dress like this in front of our parents,” another student said.
The medicos also said the principal’s assistant, too, crossed the line. They said the assistant constantly took their photographs and videos.
“If we are talking to our friends, or juniors, and the assistant will be around, taking photos and videos. The assistant has even taken our videos in the hostel, saying he the principal has asked him to do so. The principal denied asking him to do so,” the student said.
The students said attenders in the college wielded more powers than senior residents or assistant professors.
They alleged that the principal threatened students by saying that he had the video of them ragging juniors. “He told us that our career will be over as he has the video of us ragging. The junior batch has denied this allegation against the seniors,” she said.
The college, established in 2022, does not have a building.
“The college is functioning from a nursing college and the hostel is in a private building six kilometres away. A permanent building has not be allotted, and the hostel is full. In one hostel for women, three people are sharing a room. Ten to 12 students are staying in a 2BHK flat hostel for men, the students said, adding that they have to fetch drinking water.
The students also alleged that the male students were forced to eat outdoors for the want of space. They also complained about the absence of a modern lab for practical classes.
According to the National Medical Commission norms, the medical college should hostels on its campus. “The students commute by bus and are made to pay for the bus service despite studying in a government medical college,” the student said.
“We have received reports from several female medical students detailing instances of verbal abuse and harassment by the principal, creating a hostile environment that jeopardises their academic progress and personal well-being,” said R Sai Sri Harsha, President of the Junior Doctors’ Association (JUDA).
Food provided in the mess fell short of the nutritional needs of the students, he said.
“We demand immediate action against the principal for his misconduct towards female students. Furthermore, JUDA emphasises the necessity for a thorough investigation into the actions of both the principal and his attendant to ensure accountability,” Dr Harsha said.
Dr Rao told South First that his statements stemmed from the concern he has for the students.
“There is a generation gap between the students and me. I am 60 years old, and I treat them like children and even call them amma. But I definitely want to say that I am strict, especially regarding their dress. It comes from the concern over where we stay, around 300 kilometres from Hyderabad in rural area, a small town,” he said.
“These students want to go out to the street in their night dress. It is when I asked them not to do it, considering the locality where we stay. I also told them that moving around with boys in this area is not safe. There is a safety risk,” he said and referred to the Jharkhand incident.
A Spanish vlogger was gangraped by seven men at Dhumka in Jharkhand, after she and her partner had stopped during a night ride on 1 March.
The principal also said that he was giving the best possible facility to the students despite the challenges in running a new medical college.
“It’s been two years since we started the medical colleges. There are hundreds of challenges, but we are providing the best affordable facility,” Dr Rao added.
(Edited by Majnu Babu)
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