Don’t knock on medical college hostel door, it’s filled up

Girl students of the new batch joining the Government Medical College, Ernakulam, will have to find lodging outside the college premises as there are no more rooms to accommodate them in the hostel facilities inside the college premises.

Principal Praveen Lal K. had taken the decision following protests by the residents of the boys’ hostel that was being bifurcated to accommodate the new batch of girls.

“It is unfortunate, but as facilities are running short, such a decision had to be taken,” he said.

It will take at least four months for the final-year batch to move out of the hostel.

“When the students join on Monday, the college will see whether some arrangement can be made,” said Dr. Lal. “We have to see how many seek hostel facilities and how many would be day-scholars. This time, at least 15 seats go into the all-India quota and there would be students from outside the State,” he said.

Classes begin on Monday, but there is time till September 5 for students to join. “As Onam holidays are coming up, it is likely that some arrangement could be made after that,” said Dr. Lal.

Hebin Das, students’ union chairman, told The Hindu that the college authorities were likely to make arrangements to pick up students staying outside the college premises.