Gondia nursing students stage sit-in at dean's office over hostel, facilities; promised fix in 45 days

More than 100 BSc nursing students, led by the All India Students Federation (AISF), reached the dean's office of the government medical college in Gondia on October 24, 2026 and staged a vigorous protest. The issue concerns the hostel and other academic and basic problems faced by students of the government nursing college. The organisation says the administration paid no heed despite an ultimatum.

Tempers rose during the protest. The police and the departments concerned then intervened. Finally, the dean assured the students that all their problems would be resolved within the next month and a half. Following the assurance, the agitation was put on hold for now.

The AISF had submitted a representation to the administration on October 8 over hostel and study problems. When no concrete action followed, the organisation had warned of an agitation. It is alleged that instead of resolving the problems, the administration sent MBBS women students to the girls' hostel and asked the nursing students to vacate their rooms. This arrangement had created tension among students on both sides.

Treating the matter as serious, the AISF on October 23 lodged a complaint with the Superintendent of Police and the inspector of the police station concerned. The organisation says that instead of handling the question of the students' accommodation sensibly, the situation was allowed to develop in which tension arose between the students themselves. It called this a major lapse in the administration's planning.

On October 24, more than 100 nursing students led by the AISF reached the dean's office, which caused tension in the area. The police and the departments concerned then arranged talks between representatives of the students, office-bearers of the organisation and the college administration. The talks covered the hostel issue as well as the college's teaching and basic facilities in detail.

The organisation has made it clear that the administration must keep its assurance, and that concrete action on the students' demands will be the real success of this agitation. According to the AISF, facilities such as the hostel, classrooms, toilets, updated labs, library, qualified and experienced professors, regular practical classes and the mess are not merely an administrative matter but are linked to the students' right to education. The organisation warned that if pressure to vacate rooms was applied instead of providing basic facilities, it would not be acceptable under any circumstances.

State president Vaibhav Chopkar said the administration had to come forward for talks only because of the students' unity. He said the next month and a half will make clear whether the assurance is acted upon or the students have to agitate again. He said that if the administration did not keep its promise, the AISF would again launch a struggle for the students' rightful demands. Pranay Badwaik and all the students were present on the occasion.