Victory for AISA and Student Community
- Niharika Pradaush
The student community of Trivandrum Medical College gained a significant victory under the leadership of All India Students' Association (AISA) over the grave systemic injustice of the college towards its laboratory-based trainee students. At the peak of the pandemic period, the college withdrew the stipend facility of trainee students and exploited their free labour coupled with poor working conditions.
AISA activists of Kerala along with students made direct appeals and issued written petitions to the authorities, including HDS Superintendent regarding the issues of students. With the on-ground support from Trivandrum District Leading Team of CPI (ML) Liberation and local unit of AICCTU the struggle could finally secure victory.
After months of sustained pressure from students under the AISA bannner, the stipend and lab facilities has been restored for the Trivandrum District Medical College Lab Technician (DMLT) trainee students. Along with stipends, demands addressing gender-based needs were also placed before the management. Finally, the college conceded to the demands, including stipend of ₹ 6000 per month that will be paid from April 2022 onwards for the next six months. Alongside, providing lab facilities as per requirements of the course, adequate restroom facilities, prior information on duty timings and schedules will also be ensured. It is expected that the succeeding batches will also be extended the same facilities thanks to the students struggle led by AISA.
Systemic Issue
This issue in Trivandrum Medical College throws light on the larger injustices being meted out to medical apprentices and trainees in the state. On 21 March 2022, the Governing Council of Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) had recommended the decision of the Academic Council (dated 15 December 2015) that instructed all the affiliated self-financing and dental colleges to strictly comply with its directive "to grant stipends to interns of UG and PG courses at par with the interns of government colleges." The Kerala High Court, in 2015, had upheld the order of Medical Council of India directing private medical colleges to pay stipends to PG medical students on par with government medical colleges. About 150 PG dental students approached the Kerala High Court in 2018 challenging the non-payment and disparity in stipend disbursal by self-financing medical colleges. The private college managements in the state are unwilling to abide by the recent KUHS directive too, as it would reduce the quantum of loot they amass.
AISA will continue its struggle for students' rights and for the rights of trainees and apprentices who face exploitation in contractual appointments.
