KEM offers Sewri TB hospital as alternative accommodation to students

Students from KEM nursing quarters have been asked by the administration to move from their dilapidated hostel to the premises of the Group of Tuberculosis Hospitals in Sewri The decision prompted a protest on Friday as students fear contracting TB at the proposed accommodationSeveral parents also came for the protest outside the deans office and complained that instead of solving the studentsrsquo problems the administration was risking their lives by sending them to the TB hospital The dean later told midday that the administration would explore more optionsA 40yearold cook sustained severe head injuries when a concrete slab from the roof fell on November 3 at the KEM Nurses Quarters and School of Nursing in Parel The incident caught the attention of the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission following which the BMC made a submission saying the students would be shifted within two weeksAlos readMumbai Kitchen staff injured after concrete slab collapses at KEM nursing quartersHowever two weeks later the administration came up with the alternative accommodation Its letter to students read ldquoThe appropriate place ie ward No2 amp 4 has been identified wherein it can be ensured that all of the occupants of the nursing college were suitably accommodated and none of them directly or indirectly get exposed to TB patients being treated at the hospitalrdquoThe matron was asked to make necessary preparations for shifting by November 28 ldquoIf any of the occupants do not shift from the dilapidated nursing quarter it will be at their risk and consequences KEM administration MCGM administration shall not be held responsible for the samerdquo the letter addedA senior hospital official requesting anonymity said ldquoSince receiving this letter students are in fear How can one risk the lives of studentsrdquoGautam Bansode a parent from Bhandup said they want the safety of their daughter at any cost First the hospital authorities do nothing about complaints of slabs falling every now and then and now they want students to shift to an environment where there is a risk of contracting TB he addedldquoBefore going to work I came to the hostel and supported my daughter in the protest Our childrenrsquos safety is the only thing we demand from the BMCrdquo Bansode saidKEM Dean Dr Sangeeta Rawat told midday ldquoConsidering the studentsrsquo safety we decided to shift them to the premises of TB Hospital However they refused to do so due to fear of getting infected so we are looking for another option The safety of our students tutors and the staff is of utmost priority for usrdquo03Day in November when a concrete slab fell