Question : SUICIDE BY STUDENTS IN MEDICAL COLLEGES

(a) whether the Government has taken note that the talented student of the Scheduled Castes (SCs)/Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) are subjected to caste based discrimination and have committed suicide at Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS);

(b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto and the number of suicide cases of students belonging to SCs/STs and OBCs have been reported from the said college/Institute during each of the last three years; and

(c) the corrective measures taken/being taken by the Government to check caste discrimination and loss of life in the said College/Institute?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a) & (b) There is no caste based discrimination at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC). There have been four cases of suicides by students/residents in AIIMS since 2002 till date. Out of these four instances, in two instances students/ residents belonged to general category. In other two cases, one student/resident belonged to Scheduled Caste and other one to Scheduled Tribe. In either of these two suicides, the cause was not caste based discrimination. No such case of suicide by students has been reported in VMMC.

(c) A Committee under the Chairmanship of Prof. Sukhdev Thorat was constituted and based on recommendations of the committee following steps were initiated in AIIMS to improve the general welfare of the students belonging to Scheduled Caste and Schedule Tribes at AIIMS:-

i) Students Welfare Grievance Redress and Hostel Affairs Cell was created on 17.9.2010.

ii) English Language classes were started from April, 2010.

iii) Hostel allotment procedure is being done by draw.

iv) The representation of SC/ST/OBC candidates has been increasing in the student union and as class representatives.

v) The facility of Mess/ bathroom/ recreation room/ playground/ swimming pool/ gymkhana are equally shared among all categories of students.

vi) Proper Post based roster system has been implemented for Senior Resident (non-academic) Junior Resident (non-academic) and faculty at all levels as per Department Of Personnel and Training guidelines. Proper roster for academic courses at all level has also been implemented.

To prevent recurrence of such incident, AIIMS has taken following steps:-

i. A Committee has been set up with Professor Sukhdev Thorat to examine the extent to which the earlier recommendations of the Thorat Committee have been implemented by the Institute and further measures need to be taken.

ii. Monthly meeting of the Student Union, Resident Doctor Association with Director and Dean to review their academic and welfare measures

iii. A senior professor appointed as the Students Welfare Officer.

iv. Additional classes/tutorials on important topics for those having short attendance.

v. Individual interviews with psychologists/psychiatrists for students every two months in order to enable them to cope up with studies and social life more effectively.