Guidelines Issued for Safety, Discipline at AP Medical College Hostels

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh Medical Education authorities on Thursday issued model guidelines for proper maintenance of hostels attached to the government medical colleges and teaching hospitals.

Emphasis of the guidelines is on providing safety to students, initiating stern action against ragging and harassment of students, and ensuring financial discipline.

As per Medical Education director Dr. A. Vishnu Vardhan, complaints of ragging, sexual harassment, and threats or violence must be dealt with severely by initiating stern action against the perpetrators.

Authorities have imposed a ban on ragging, sexual harassment, smoking, tobacco, gambling, drugs, unauthorised entry, and destruction of property. Students who flout such norms are to be counselled, warned and fine imposed on them. Based on the severity of the issue, students can be suspended for 15 days, their hostel facility cancelled, and they could be sent away from the college.

General complaints on such issues are to be resolved within seven days. Serious cases will have to be handled by chief warden and legal agencies.

Further, the guidelines ban programmes in hostels, including playing of high decibel music, without approval from the hostel warden. Silence will have to be maintained from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Hostel authorities must test water quality once in a month. Chemical tests are to be done every six months. Fire safety equipment should be checked every three months. CCTV cameras must be installed without affecting the privacy of students. Their footage is to be preserved for 30 days.

A monthly report is to be prepared on income and expenditure at the hostels. It should be submitted to the chief warden on the 10th of every month. Any expenditure beyond ₹1 lakh would require prior approval. Any objections in financial matters must be responded to within 30 days. There can be no diversion of funds without prior approval.