Students protest ‘health centre’ inside classroom in Dimapur
Students protest ‘health centre’ inside classroom in Dimapur
A protest was held at Government Middle School Midland on Tuesday over the alleged “illegal occupation” of a classroom by the Health and Family Welfare Department
A section of protestors outside GMS Midland on Tuesday. (EM
Images)
DIMAPUR — A protest was held at Government
Middle School (GMS) Midland on Tuesday over the alleged “illegal occupation” of
a classroom by the Health and Family Welfare Department.
The demonstration, led by the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union
(DNSU), demanded that the department vacate the school premises within seven
days.
According to DNSU leaders, a health centre was set up inside
a classroom in 2011, without considering the health and safety of students and
teachers.
Running a medical institution and a school in the same
premises is not a good environment for students, they said, adding that “We do
not even know where they are disposing bio-medical waste.”
Expressing frustration over the issue, the student body said
that despite repeated appeals, the health department has not vacated the
premises. Instead, the DNSU members said that reliable sources have informed
them that there are plans to expand the facility into an Urban Health and
Wellness Centre.
The DNSU further pointed out that official orders were
issued twice by the Principal Director of School Education in July and October
2024, directing the medical department to vacate the building immediately.
However, the orders have not been complied with, and the medical department
continues to occupy the building illegally.
“It also noted that health and education should go hand in
hand, but that does not mean that we should open a hospital in the middle of a
college,” it added.
The president of Dimapur Lotha Students Union (DLSU)
asserted that the decision to protest was not taken by the DNSU alone but a
collective decision taken at a recent presidential meeting among tribal student
bodies in Dimapur.
“Government should take this seriously; in fact, chief
minister should intervene and resolve this matter immediately,” the DLSU
president added.
As part of the protest, the DNSU submitted an ultimatum to
the Principal Director of Health & Family Welfare through the Deputy
Commissioner, demanding immediate relocation of the health centre. The
ultimatum stated that failure to comply within seven days would result in
further action, including public demonstrations and legal recourse.
The ultimatum stated that despite clear directives from the
Principal Director of the Education Department on July 5 and Oct. 8, 2024, the
health department “continues to encroach upon the school infrastructure,
severely disrupting the academic environment and infringing on students’ rights
to proper education. This blatant disregard for student welfare, administrative
authority, and the law is unacceptable.”
Along with the immediate relocation of the dispensary from
the school premises, it also demanded “Compliance with the Education Department’s
order and restoration of the school's classrooms for educational purposes.”
“The Department of Health & Family Welfare is given a
deadline of seven (7) days from the date of this ultimatum to vacate the
classrooms and resolve this issue. Failure to comply within this stipulated
timeframe will leave us with no choice but to take democratic and non-violent
action to safeguard the interests of our students and the integrity of our
educational institutions,” it added.
The ultimatum was handed over to Additional Deputy
Commissioner (ADC) Zakabo Rotokha, who arrived at the protest site.
Acknowledging that the issue was not new, Rotokha stated
that the administration had previously held meetings with the Midland colony
council as well as the health and education departments.
He said that the district administration had recently
received a letter from the department requesting it to identify and allocate
land so that one of the departments can move out.
“We are working towards it, and our revenue branch will also
come and identify a place and recommend it to the department,” the official
said.
He assured that the district administration is trying best
to resolve this burning issue as quickly as possible.
