UGC Issues Notice to Kolkata Medical Institute
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On February 1, the UGC served a show-cause notice to the S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata for not submitting anti-ragging declarations from students and guardians. This institution is among 18 others facing similar scrutiny, highlighting ongoing concerns in the health sector of West Bengal.
Key Takeaways
- UGC issued a notice to S.S.K.M. Medical College.
- 18 medical institutes face similar issues.
- Anti-ragging declarations are mandatory.
- Communication gaps may have caused the oversight.
- Health sector in West Bengal under scrutiny.
Kolkata, Feb 1 (NationPress) The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a show-cause notice to Kolkata's esteemed Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research, commonly known as S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital, due to its failure to provide an anti-ragging declaration list from both students and their guardians.
It's noteworthy that S.S.K.M. is not the only medical institution facing this issue, as 18 medical colleges across the nation have received similar notices from the UGC.
The notice emphasizes that any institution that does not respond adequately may encounter serious repercussions from the UGC.
According to the Anti-Ragging Act of 2009, every educational institution must obtain a declaration from incoming students and their guardians stating their commitment to refrain from any anti-ragging activities. These declarations must be submitted on a designated UGC website.
However, it was observed that none of the 200 new students at S.S.K.M. have submitted their declarations on the site, prompting the commission to seek an explanation from the institute's administration.
Sources from the state Health Department indicated that this issue may stem from a communication misunderstanding and expressed optimism about a swift resolution.
A senior official from the Department stated, “Typically, medical colleges and hospitals send these anti-ragging declarations to the National Medical Commission. If they also need to be submitted to the UGC, we will ensure that happens.”
The health sector in West Bengal has recently garnered negative attention due to various incidents, including the shocking rape and murder of a junior doctor from R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital last August, and the tragic deaths of a woman and her newborn at a different medical facility in West Midnapore district, allegedly due to the administration of expired Ringer’s Lactate.
