Baramulla, Jammu & Kashmir: The medics at Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla staged a protest outside the academic block, voicing their discontent over the administration’s policies regarding hostel accommodation. The students, including both MBBS students and interns, protested against being forced to either vacate their hostel rooms or share single-capacity rooms with another person. Gathering in large numbers, the students raised slogans and called for immediate action. They pointed out that the administration’s decision to double up interns in rooms meant for one is in direct violation of the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines. “There is private accommodation available at Kanlibagh, which can be used to house the fresher batch, as recommended by the NMC. Fresher’s should be housed away from seniors to avoid overcrowding in the hostels,” said one of the protesting students.
Adding to their grievances, the students highlighted the lack of basic furniture in many hostel rooms, leaving them with inadequate living conditions. “Several rooms are missing essential furniture such as beds and cupboards, forcing students to share not just space but also basic amenities. This is unacceptable, especially when the workload and academic pressure are already so high,” an intern shared. The protestors also raised concerns about the incomplete infrastructure at the college. They pointed out that the library has not yet been shifted to the main block, and several laboratories remain unfinished, affecting both academic and practical learning.
The students called on the administration to address these issues immediately. “We are not only fighting for our space but also for the completion of the facilities that are essential to our education and well-being,” a final-year student said. Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, there has been no official response from the college administration so far. The students have vowed to continue their demonstrations until their demands, including better hostel conditions and completion of essential infrastructure, are met.