MBBS Students Protest Against Haridwar Government Medical College’s PPP Shift

Haridwar: In a contentious development, reports have emerged that Haridwar’s Government Medical College is slated to be handed over to Sharda Educational Trust under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, a move that has intensified ongoing protests and raised questions about transparency in decision-making.

What’s Happening?

The state government wants to run this medical college through a partnership with a private organization (called a PPP model). The chosen partner is “Sharda Educational Trust”, which already runs Sharda University in Greater Noida.

Sharda Educational Trust, which already operates several educational institutions including Sharda University in Greater Noida, UP, is now at the center of this controversial transition in Uttarakhand’s medical education sector.

₹800 crore public-funded institution to private hands

The Trust’s potential involvement in managing an ₹800 crore government medical facility has raised eyebrows, particularly given the secretive nature of discussions that reportedly took place in the Secretariat over the past two months. Education activists and opposition leaders are questioning the selection process and criteria that led to choosing this particular trust for the PPP arrangement.

The revelation has caused particular concern as sources indicate that discussions about transferring the institution to Sharda Educational Trust have been quietly ongoing in the state Secretariat corridors for approximately two months before becoming public knowledge. This behind-the-scenes negotiation has fueled skepticism about the transparency of the process.

MBBS Students to Get Private Degree from Govt Medical College

One of the most controversial aspects of this transition is its impact on student credentials. Future students who qualify through NEET for admission to what they believe is a government medical college may instead receive marksheets bearing a private college’s name. This situation has created significant anxiety among both current and prospective students who specifically chose the institution for its government status.

PPP model won’t affect fees

the transfer of the ₹800 crore public-funded institution to private hands reflects potential corruption and favoritism in the decision-making process. While the Director of Medical Education maintains that the PPP model won’t affect fees, facilities, or the government status of degrees, the emergence of these new details has cast doubt on these assurances.

Adding to the complexity, while discussions about Sharda Educational Trust’s involvement have been ongoing at the administrative level, the college principal maintains that no official orders regarding the PPP implementation have been received, creating a state of uncertainty among stakeholders.

This situation highlights growing concerns about the privatization of public medical education institutions and raises questions about the long-term implications for medical education accessibility in Uttarakhand.

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