Salary row: Minister meets mgmt of Banur college

Gagan K Teja

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 20

Medical Education Minister Brahm Mohindra today held a meeting with senior functionaries of the department and the management of Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Banur, to resolve a crisis that is affecting studies.

The teaching and technical staff of the college have been on a strike for the past two months following the non-disbursal of their salaries. They have not been paid for six months.

After repeated requests and warnings, the management failed to release the salaries. Hence, the staff went on a strike.

Classes and medical services have been suspended. As a result, students and patients are suffering.

Students said lakhs of rupees spent on admissions were going down the drain. The government should take responsibility since admission to the college was based on a common entrance test, one of them said.

The college has a strength of more than 900 students. Their exams are scheduled for next month. Even students have joined the agitation, demanding adequate staff strength, hostel facilities and proper utilisation of their fee.

The state government had constituted a four-member committee of professors. In its report, the committee had mentioned that the management was incompetent to run the college.

Sources said matter was on the agenda of the Congress government. Rajpura MLA Hardyal Kamboj visited the college on Sunday. A showcause notice might be issued to the management, sources said. Brahm Mohindra said it was a sensitive matter and he would decide in the interest of students. “The management is not serious about running the institute properly. It pilfered money. I will not let students down as they are the future of our country,” he added.