Imphal, June 18: In continuation of their ongoing agitation demanding reimbursement of the money allegedly collected from them by the principal of the School of General Nursing, Midwifery, GNM under the State Medical Department , the students of the institution have fervently appealed to the Medical Department for transparency in the auditing the account.

Addressing a press conference in this connection at the School building located within the complex of RIMS Hospital at Lamphelpat this afternoon, the agitating students pointed out that in accordance to the guidelines of the Indian Nursing Council, there is no mention on payment of admission free every year apart from the course fee paid once for the 3-year GNM course at the time of admission.

But on the basis of an office memorandum issued by the then Health Director Ch Chandramani, principal in-charge S Ibemhal Devi has been collecting admission free from the students every year, the said.

Out of the amount collected from the students Govt revenue include Rs 200 as admission fee, Rs 500 as tuition fee, Rs 100 as library fee and Rs 200 as Hostel fee while non-Government account include Rs 200 as mess fee, Rs 200 as exam fee, Rs 200 as fee for nurses welfare fund, Rs 100 as emergency health care fee, Rs 100 as games and library fee, Rs 200 as nursing arts laboratory fee, Rs 100 as community practice laboratory fee, Rs 100 as nutrition laboratory fee, Rs 300 as computer application fee, Rs 200 as market sheet fee, Rs 2000 as uniform fee, Rs 250 as Council Exam fee, Rs 200 as student enrolment fee, Rs 100 as maintenance and Rs 50 as cultural fee, the agitating students disclosed, adding that a sum of Rs 1000 being charged from all the students every year as Govt revenue should not be charged at all.

The agitating students further said that all the 121 students in the GNM course are pursuing their study after being given selection by the Govt and are being paid stipend every year.

So it is in violation of the laid down guidelines to charge admission free as Govt revenue from the students who are getting stipend to study, they contended.

Moreover, from out of the fee levied from the students under the non-Govt account, the admission fee should not be taken, they said.

Even if the library fee is collected from the students every year, the students have not known its benefit as there is no library of the school.

Besides, the students are not getting the chance to learn computer as there is only one computer set in the school although fees are being charged from the students every year, they lamented.

While disclosing that the Ministry of Health had granted a sum of Rs 13 lakhs in three instalments for the maintenance of the school during the academic session 2004-2005, the agitating students pointed out that apart from purchasing a Maruti Van, no other infrastructural development work had been ever taken up.

So the efforts being made by the principal in-charge to deduct money from the mess fee of the students and utilise the same for the maintenance is condemnable, they added.

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