Kochi: The students of the Ernakulam Government Nursing College functioning on the campus of the Ernakulam Government Medical College intensified their strike demanding to complete the construction of their hostel which has been delayed for years.
A section of them first blocked the nursing college principal Dr Saleena Shah and the teachers around 7.30 am and the rest later blocked the administrative building and did not allow the EMC principal Dr Aswini Kumar and special officer M.K. Kuttappan and other staff to enter the building. They also did not allow the students and parents who came for the first year MBBS admissions into the campus.
As the stalemate continued, leaders of various political organisations intervened following which the authorities agreed to hold talks. During the talks held around noon, the authorities promised that they will exert pressure on the government but the students wanted a specific commitment. But the college authorities said they were not authorised to do so and then a decision was taken to contact the district collector. Students said that an assurance from the collector would suffice and demanded talks with him.
When Dr Aswini Kumar contacted collector M.G. Rajamanickam, he agreed to hold talks at his chamber at 3 pm. Later he contacted health secretary Dr Elangovan who asked the collector to contact the PWD secretary and sort out the issue since PWD is responsible for the construction. When Mr Rajamanickam contacted PWD secretary Mohammed Hanish, the latter agreed to hold talks in his office at 4 pm on Friday to sort out the issue. Following this, students agreed to end the strike for the next two days.
