Hundreds of nursing students staged a dharna at the Divisional Commissioner’s office situated at Moti Mahal before taking out a rally from Phoolbagh ground.  Later the agitating students submitted a memorandum to the Divisional Commissioner BM Sharma. They were agitating over the government’s antipathy towards their plight due to the non recognition of nursing colleges.

Thousands of students from Gwalior and other parts of the state had taken admission for GNM, BSc (Nursing), Post Basic BSC and MSc (Nursing) in the various private nursing colleges in the state. At the time of admission the college authorities had assured the students that the colleges would get the necessary recognition from the Medical Education Department and Madhya Pradesh Nurses Registration Council.

On the assurance of the college authorities the students took admission and paid the entire fees. However later on it came to their knowledge that many colleges in the state have not got the recognition. Students from colleges that do not have recognition will not be allowed to sit for exams.

The leaders of the agitation have petitioned the DC to take immediate action against the erring colleges even while allowing the students to shift to colleges with recognition.

The leaders including the Nursing Association’s state president Vishu Pandey, Vice- President Rajkumar Tyagi, State office bearer Vikki Arhela and District President Raja Kapasia have cautioned that they will go on an indefinite sit in dharna from tomorrow onwards if their demands are not met with immediate effect.

Talking to the media persons, Vishnu Pandey said that they have already brought to the notice of the state ministers and the MLS the gravity of the situation but till today no assurance has been given by any of them. He added that this lethargic attitude of the authorities towards such a sensitive issue is a grave injustice to nursing students and their parents.