The agitation for a medical college in Tehri is set to intensify, with the Medical College Construction Joint Struggle Committee announcing an indefinite hunger strike from 12 November. The protest has been continuing for 102 days at Ganesh Chowk in Bauradi, New Tehri.

The committee says the administration and state government have not taken a concrete step despite the prolonged campaign. It has begun preparations for the hunger strike and says assurances alone will no longer be enough to end the protest.

Protesters question elected representatives

BJP leader Jeet Ram Bhatt, who was participating in the sit-in, questioned the role of elected representatives on Wednesday. He alleged that Tehri’s representatives had not raised the medical college demand effectively before the government.

Bhatt said 2 chief ministers had announced that a medical college would be established in Tehri, but work has still not begun. He alleged that Tehri MLA Kishor Upadhyay did not hold effective discussions with the chief minister on the issue.

He also alleged that 4 other MLAs from Tehri district had not made a concrete case before the government for a medical college near New Tehri. These are allegations made by Bhatt and were not presented as an official finding.

Bhatt said timely intervention by the elected representatives could have prevented the agitation from continuing beyond 100 days. He further alleged that the demand had repeatedly been kept unresolved, despite being linked to healthcare across the district.

Demand to upgrade Bauradi district hospital

Alongside the medical college, the struggle committee is asking the government to upgrade New Tehri’s district hospital in Bauradi into a base hospital. The committee says the upgrade would improve access to healthcare for people in Tehri.

According to the committee, better local facilities could reduce the need for patients with serious illnesses to travel to Dehradun, Rishikesh or other major cities for treatment. It also expects a medical college to improve access to modern healthcare, increase the availability of specialist doctors and create opportunities for young people to study medicine.

The committee says the sit-in and rotational hunger strike have continued for 102 days without a decision on its demands. It has therefore set 12 November as the date for beginning the indefinite hunger strike.

The immediate question is whether the government will take action before the planned hunger strike begins. The available report does not record any confirmed government decision on the medical college or the proposed base-hospital upgrade.

Conclusion

The Tehri campaign has continued for 102 days, and organisers now plan an indefinite hunger strike from 12 November while seeking a medical college and a base-hospital upgrade at Bauradi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. When will the indefinite hunger strike begin?

The Medical College Construction Joint Struggle Committee has announced that it will begin on 12 November.

Q. Where has the protest been taking place?

The sit-in has been continuing at Ganesh Chowk in Bauradi, New Tehri.

Q. How long has the protest continued?

The protest has continued for 102 days, according to the report.

Q. What additional healthcare demand has the committee raised?

The committee has demanded that New Tehri’s Bauradi district hospital be upgraded into a base hospital.

Q. What does the committee say the medical college could provide?

It says the project could bring modern healthcare, more specialist doctors and medical education opportunities for young people.