MP Nursing Students in Limbo: Calls for General Promotion Amidst Court Orders and CBI Probe

Bhopal- The future of around 1.5 lakh nursing students in Madhya Pradesh hangs in the balance amidst court orders and an ongoing CBI investigation. Students who enrolled in nursing colleges for the first year during the academic year 2020-21 are facing a predicament as, even after four years, they have been unable to appear for their first-year exams due to a court-imposed ban. These students have been stuck in the same class for the past four years, awaiting resolution of the examination impasse. Now, they are demanding general promotion.

Recently, nursing students submitted memorandums to the Chief Minister in various districts across the state, highlighting the issues related to exams. These students have been requesting general promotion for the past four years due to the block in exams. They argue that the uncertainty about exams is affecting their future. They are now urging for prompt action, emphasizing that the wait for the court's decision is no longer acceptable.

The memorandum, submitted through a seven-point letter to the Chief Minister, includes the following demands:

1. Grant general promotion to all students who enrolled in the first year of B.Sc. Nursing and Paramedical courses for the academic years 2020-21 and 2021-22.

2. Conduct examinations for B.Sc.(N), PB B.Sc, M.Sc. Nursing, etc., immediately after the general promotion, and declare the results within 45 days. Conduct exams every six months to correct the academic calendar and announce results within 45 days.

3. Promptly address irregularities in universities.

4. Conduct permanent recruitment on vacant positions in universities.

5. Do not engage private agencies for university exams; instead, conduct exams through university authorities.

6. Establish regional centers at the district level to assist students at all divisional levels.

7. Open government nursing colleges in all districts of Madhya Pradesh.

Meanwhile, the CBI is investigating nursing college fraud cases, and despite this, the state government is not only renewing the recognition of existing colleges but also granting recognition to new nursing colleges. Consequently, new admissions are taking place every year, and students who enrolled in 2021 are still in their first year, with those from previous years awaiting exam results.

Speaking to The Mooknayak, nursing student Samarth Pal said, "The continuous hearings in the high court are causing distress. Our future is at stake due to the government's system. If the government wishes, they can grant us general promotion. We have been demanding this even during the previous government's tenure, but our pleas fell on deaf ears. We were preparing for exams, but nothing has happened in four years. With a new government in place, we are appealing to the Chief Minister to grant general promotion to nursing students who took admission in the year 2021-22."

Nursing students have initiated protests against the government, raising concerns about the general promotion and pending exam results. Last year, thousands of students had gathered in Bhopal for a protest, but it yielded no response. Now, students are gearing up for a renewed agitation in the state capital, emphasizing their demand for general promotion.

The nursing college scam, wherein colleges lacking the mandatory infrastructure were granted recognition, has been a matter of controversy. Advocate Vishal Baghel, who filed a petition in the Jabalpur High Court, submitted evidence showcasing irregularities and malpractices. The court, taking cognizance of the matter, imposed a ban on nursing college exams. Consequently, exams have not been conducted for the past two years, leaving students in limbo. Now, nursing students are preparing for a widespread protest against the government, urging them to address their concerns promptly.

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