Haryana: The Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College of Karnal has rolled back their previous decision of holding practical classes for 1st-year MBBS students from August 4th onwards. The decision comes in the wake of the increased number of COVID cases citing which the students voted against the commencement of online classes in an online survey conducted by the authorities.
The medicos were earlier apprised through a notice to report at the institution on August 4. At least 120 students have received the instruction from the Institution and they were also informed that batches with 30 students will be formed who will report to the institution between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on other August 4.
"Students will report in the batches of 30 students each from August 4 between 8 am and 10 am. Then their samples for Covid-19 will be collected. The report will come after 4-6 hours. The only negative found students will be allowed to enter the hostel. If someone tests positive, he/she will have to follow the protocol being followed at the institute for positive patients," the earlier order read.
However, now the authorities have withdrawn their decision and the new change has been communicated to the students. The class representatives have informed the students by a message stating "due to administrative reasons the order circulated vide KCGMC/Dean/2020/883-90 dated 29/07/2020, regarding starting of practical classes for Batch-2019, is hereby withdrawn till further notice. Students are requested not to report to the institute."
As per a recent media report in The Indian Express, sources claimed that during the online survey held to receive the opinions of the students in favour of or against conducting the practical classes and most of the first year medicos voted against holding the practical classes offline.
Sources at PGIMS, Rohtak confirmed that "MBBS students did an online survey seeking the opinion of all of them about the decision of practical classes from August 4. As many as 227 students out of 250 participated in the survey, and 77.09 percent (175) students were not in the favour of classes and 22.91 (52) were in the favour of classes."
There has been no clarification about the decision of KCGMC authorities. When asked about the decision of the institution, the dean of PGIMS Rohtak, Sarika Mangoo said, "I cannot make any comment. I have no information about anything in this connection", the daily added.
"There is still no clarity about the decision of PGIMS, which also sent a schedule of practical classes to all students of MBBS first year without urging them to report on August 4. A schedule was sent to all MBBS first-year students but they were not urged to report at the institute like in the case of KCGMC, Karnal," sources told The Indian Express.