Rampur, Himachal Pradesh: A serious health crisis has gripped the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Nursing College in Khaneri, Rampur, after 19 female students were discovered to be infected with Tuberculosis. The outbreak has ripped the lid off chronic administrative apathy and decrepit living conditions that have been festering within the institution unchecked.
Approximately 20 percent of the student body has contracted the infectious disease, effectively puncturing the state’s tuberculosis elimination campaign. The outbreak is not a sudden development but rather the direct consequence of prolonged negligence that was formally documented by authorities twice before the crisis escalated.
An initial inspection was conducted on March 31, followed by a second on April 17 acting on the orders of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate. Both reports flagged serious systemic flaws within the campus infrastructure. However, the failure to implement timely corrective measures directly led to the current situation where students bore the brunt of the administration’s inaction.
The inspection reports paint a grim picture of the hostel facilities. Students were forced to live in damp, seepage-ridden rooms while the quality of food was deemed dangerously substandard, with reports of foul-smelling milk being served. Protein-rich essentials such as eggs, lentils, and fruits were almost entirely absent from their diet. In a glaring violation of protocol, the mess operator has been functioning without a valid tender since 2009, with the concerned department choosing to remain silent.
Students have alleged that medical rest is denied even when they are unwell. They are forced to participate in mandatory activities during menstruation without access to basic necessities like warm water. Contact with family members is severely restricted. The environment, critics argue, mimics a forced labour camp rather than an educational establishment dedicated to healthcare training.
The academic infrastructure is equally compromised, with a library that remains frequently shut, forcing students to study on staircases. Severe overcrowding is rampant, with 25 to 30 students forced to share a single toilet that lacks any dedicated sanitation worker, compelling the students to clean the facilities themselves. The exploitation extends to hospital duties during holidays and degrading “forest duty” assigned merely to chase away monkeys.
Allegations of promoting superstition have also surfaced, including rituals at temples for missing items and intimidation tactics involving local deities. Students claim complaints are met with threats of increased fees or mobile phone confiscation, pushing them to the brink of severe mental distress.
Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur has sharply criticized the Sukhu government’s neglect, questioning the state-level lapse despite substantial central support under the National Health Mission. Parents have formally submitted written complaints to the Medical Superintendent of Khaneri and the SDM of Rampur. The critical question remains: with inspection reports in hand, why did the administration choose to look the other way until 19 students contracted a dangerous infectious disease?
