NHRC takes suo motu cognizance of TB outbreak at MGMSC Nursing College hostel affecting 19 female students

Shimla Nursing College: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) India has taken suo motu cognizance after several media reports highlighted that 19 female students were contracted tuberculosis due to unhygienic living conditions in Shimla's MGMSC Nursing College hostel.

NHRC India has issued a notice to Himachal Pradesh’s chief security and called for a detailed report on the incidents happening at the Shimla nursing college, within two weeks.

According to the official PIB press release, the students at the MGMSC Nursing College hostel are reportedly facing severely overcrowded, damp, and unhygienic living conditions with inadequate sanitation.

The commission has further noted that it's a serious issue of “human rights violation” if the media reports circulating are true.

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MGMSC Nursing College faces scrutiny over management lapses

Reportedly, during two recent inspections conducted at the nursing college, serious deficiencies were observed in hostel management, including sanitation and overall functioning. However, no proper measures were taken by the college administration, resulting in the female students contracting tuberculosis.

As per reports carried out by the media on May 2 and 3, several shortcomings were flagged based on the inspections conducted on March 31 and April 17.

The students of the MGMSC Nursing College hostel face “overcrowded” and “unhygienic living conditions” with critically poor sanitation. The reports also indicate poor-quality food and a lack of basic, nutritious food provided at the hostel.

Moreover, the students of the Shimla nursing college have been "denied rest” during illness or are “forced to work” as hospital staff, even on holidays.

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Shimla Nursing College: Police enquiry

As per the May 2 media report, an enquiry by Rampur’s sub-divisional magistrate Harsh Amrendra Singh revealed several deficiencies in the nursing college, including “lack of proper meals” and “poor living conditions”.

The police uncovered “financial mismanagement” and called for transparency in operations at the college.

Notably, allegations also include “misuse of funds” and the collection of a large sum of money without proper records. However, despite the principal’s allegations of “conspiracy”, local leaders demanded an FIR or high-level investigation to resolve issues at the nursing college.