NEW DELHI, March 12, 2012
AIIMS forum demands inquiry into suicide
Staff Reporter
A forum of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes faculty members at the
All-India Institute of Medical Sciences here has condoled the recent
suicide by MBBS under-graduate student Anil Kumar Meena and demanded a
"time-bound impartial inquiry by an outside agency" into the incident.
In a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil, the members said the
independent inquiry should "ascertain the truth, fix responsibility on
individuals found to be culpable for the tragedy, work out the quantum
of compensation to the family, and recommend administrative reforms to
prevent such incidents in future".
"We are dismayed by the administration's apathy towards the problem of
members of SC/ST. Many representations have been submitted in this
regard to AIIMS. The lack of affirmative response has forced us to
approach the National Commission for SC/ST, Parliamentary Committee,
as well as the court of law," said a spokesperson of the forum.
At a meeting of the forum held last week, the members noted that the
Thorat Committee recommendations proposed in 2007 have not been
implemented until now, and no corrective measures were taken by the
Institute even after a final year MBBS student committed suicide in
2010.
"The news of non-payment of promised ex-gratia amount and refusal to
provide examination answers sheets to his father under RTI till date
is an evidence of illegality and gross human insensitivity," said the
spokesperson.
The recent suicide and other attempted suicides within a span of two
years raise questions about the "culpability of the AIIMS
administration", said the members. At the meeting it was further said
that the Institute had failed in its duty to provide an environment
conducive to the growth of Anil's potential.
Members of the forum spoke to Anil's father, relatives and friends,
and also faculty members at AIIMS, and found that Anil was a bright
student. "It is unfortunate that AIIMS has failed in its duty to
provide an environment conducive to the growth of his potential to
become an asset to the community and country… It is regretted by all
members that both the Dean and the Director, AIIMS, failed to meet
this student at a time when he was desperately looking for some sort
of counselling and help," said the spokesperson.
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