Dalit Vidyarthi Parishat opposes PPP model medical college in Vijayapura

Members of the Dalit Vidyarthi Parishat took out a protest rally against the State government’s plans to set up a medical college under public private partnership (PPP) in Vijayapura on Thursday.

Protestors who gathered at the Shivaji Circle marched to Ambedkar Circle. They shouted slogans against the State government. They demanded that the State government establish a government medical college in the district.

They reached the Deputy Commissioner’s office and submitted a petition to the State government through the Additional Deputy Commissioner Somalinga Gennur.

Parishat president Srinath Poojary said that a struggle has been going on for the last 20 years to get a government medical college established in the district.

“This led to the State government planning to set up a government medical college on the premises of the District Hospital. However, some politicians have misled the government and have floated a proposal for a PPP model medical college. This is nothing but a sell-out to private interests. We cannot accept this. The parishat strongly condemns this decision and it will fight against this,” he said.

“There are already two private medical colleges in the district. Now, if a government college is also established in private partnership, it will become another private medical college. It will be grave injustice to thousands of poor, rural students. The children of the poor, farmers and wage earners cannot even fulfil their dream of becoming a doctor even if they get a seat in a private college on merit, as fees are high. The government should keep all these issues in mind and establish a government medical college,” he said.

Parishat district convener Akshay Kumar Ajamani said that health and education are service sectors and they should never be privatised.

“Unfortunately, the Central and State governments are opening them up for the private sector and commercialising them. Due to this, higher education and health services are being taken away from the poor. Both the BJP and the Congress are working to benefit the private sector. This cannot continue,” he said.

Leaders Anil Hosamani, Vidyavati Ankalagi, Venkatesh Oggennavar, Dalit Students Council office-bearers Madesh Chalwadi, Sandesh Kumatagi, Yashin Inamdar, Yuvaraja Olekar, Pratap, Bheemu, Shankar Basaragi, Dawood Naikodi, Aditya, Yamanuri Madara, Yamanuri Sindagiri, Rupa, Prema, Deepa, Pooja, Ranjana, college students and others participated.