‘No academic regulation’: AP Paramedical students protest course delay; SFI condemns police action

The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) has strongly condemned the police action against the paramedical students during a protest rally at Alipiri in Tirupati. The federation has alleged that several students, including women, were forcibly pushed, assaulted and taken to the police station.

According to the SFI’s statement, Pudi Rammohan Rao, state president of the SFI, its district secretary, and vice-president, along with several paramedical students were conducting a “peaceful” democratic protest after which the Andhra Pradesh police started using “coercive measures,” and male personnel dragged female students without ensuring their safety and dignity.

The paramedical students were protesting over the delay in the completion of the medical courses. Paramedical programmes, that were supposed to be completed within three years, are being unnecessarily extended for up to 6 years, primarily serving the profits interests of private corporate hospitals, the SFI statement read.

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Paramedical students 'exploited' to work overtime without pay

“Students are being subjected to exploitation and made to work for long periods without proper academic regulation. The Health University has completely failed to provide proper direction and oversight regarding the academic calendar of paramedical students,” it added.

The medical internships that are supposed to be for six months, are being extended to one or even two years, while students are made to work without receiving even "a single rupee", it said.

Women paramedical students were not being provided with adequate safety and security at workplaces and basic facilities such as food and hostel accommodations were also not being provided, it read.

The students’ body has blamed the authorities that no “meaningful action” took place. For the past 12 days, paramedical students across Andhra Pradesh have been conducting protests demanding a monthly stipend of Rs 15,000, regulation of the course duration and internship period, proper academic scheduling, workplace safety, and basic facilities such as food and accommodation. However, the government has completely failed to respond to their legitimate demands, it said in the statement.

In addition, instead of resolving the issues at the earliest, the government was suppressing the students’ democratic rights. Hence, the SFI has demanded that the government should “immediately” hold discussions with the protesting paramedical students and resolve all their “genuine” demands.

The authorities must also stop the repression of students and ensure that their democratic right to protest is respected.