Cancel Beed dental college nod: Medical education dept

The matter came to light after 70 first-year BDS students — mostly girl students from Mumbai — alleged in February that the college had been harassing them ever since they complained against poor infrastructure and lack of basic facilities. Most students had left the college and returned home. They had then met the Chief Minister and requested him to intervene in the matter. The students sought transfer to other colleges and demanded stern action against the college management.

In its letter,MEDD has pointed out many serious violations committed by the college management. A M Atram,deputy secretary to the state government said in the letter,“The college is not being run as per the regulation of DCI and does not have the environment necessary for imparting education. After investigations,the two committees were convinced that the complaints by the students were true.”

Students had alleged that the college did not have any lecturer for physiology and biochemistry (both major subjects) for the past three months. Moreover,practicals for anatomy,physiology,biochemistry and dental histology were not held till the date of complaint. Students had also stated that the college did not have a laboratory and other facilities.

The students also complained that no demonstration on cadavers was given. They said they were shown a rotten and decomposed six-year-old cadaver without proper preservation. Most of the colleges arrange for at least four new cadavers every year.

The girl students also complained that they were locked in a room and starved,threatened,mentally tortured and humiliated on several occasions.

“Finally we will be transfered to a better college. We faced harassment and mental torture when we filed a complaint with NGO Forum for Fairness in Education. We want DCI to cancel their permission so no one else suffers,” said a student.

Aditi Sarda,administrator of the college,refused to comment.

Panel Findings

n Cadavers in the anatomy department were in a state of decomposition

n Construction of the college building is incomplete

n No furniture available in girls’ common room and girls’ hostels,no facilities in library

n Students had to get the lights and fans in the hostel repaired on their own

n No security guard at girls’ hostel

n Hostel mess is in poor condition

n OPD statistics furnished by the college were false

n Students were forced to vote for Aditya Sarda (son of the college owner) in the students’ union elections

n No practicals are held and students complaining against it were threatened

‘Many dental colleges in state despite negative report’

A 2012 CAG report claimed a large number of dental colleges in the country,including ADC,were allowed despite negative reports against managements. An audit of 82 dental colleges between 2006 and 2011 revealed that 13 (15.85 per cent) were granted permission by the health ministry despite negative recommendations by Dental Council of India. Maharashtra Institute of Dental Sciences in Latur,Sinhgad Dental College in Pune and Yogita Dental College in Ratnagiri were also on the ‘negative’ list.