After student's death, institute adds facilities

24-hour helpline, sick rooms, doctors on campus to be introduced

The death of Nitin Bhawarkar (23), who collapsed while giving a presentation in class a few days ago, has angered the students of one of the city's most popular educational institutions. They say Bhawarkar could have been saved if the ambulance would have arrived on time.

After boycotting classes for two days, students from the management, mass communication and telecom management specialisations have submitted a list of demands to the institute authorities.

A student from the telecom management, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "When the director of the university addressed us on Tuesday, we had demanded better medical facilities for students, which included manpower and technology. The institute had asked us for some time to work on this."

The institute authorities have now decided to build sick rooms on every campus. The sick rooms will have basic first-aid facilities, 24-hour helpline services and doctors. But adding another ambulance is still under consideration and not finalised.

"We have just bought stretchers for the campus and we are planning for another ambulance, but that needs to discussed by the authorities and after looking at the feasibility, a decision will be taken," said the vice-chancellor of the institute.

He added that they were now looking at providing better insurance policies to help the students.

A committee has been appointed to investigate the death of the student and the allegations being made by the students. The vice-chancellor refused to comment on when the committee members will file the report.

Students from the telecom management and mass communication have decided to continue boycotting classes even today, though institute authorities said this was not the case and that classes would be held.