A critical shortage of hostel accommodation is plaguing Government medical colleges across Chhattisgarh, putting hundreds of aspiring doctors at academic, financial, and mental risk. As per information there is a widespread failure to provide basic housing facilities in all 10 state-run medical colleges, despite a rapid increase in medical student admissions. At Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College (Pt. JNMMC) in Raipur, a staggering 524 out of 820 students (365 males and 159 females) are still without hostel rooms. Many are forced to rent private accommodation, paying between Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 monthly, often commuting long distances. This situation severely impacts their punctuality for hospital rounds, ability to focus on studies, and overall mental well-being. Similar issues are rampant in other colleges such as Late Baliram Kashyap Memorial Government Medical College (LBKMGMC) in Jagdalpur where 100 students lack hostel rooms, with some reportedly sharing single rooms among three people, violating basic safety and dignity standards.

 

Chandulal Chandrakar Memorial Government Medical College (CCMGMC) in Durg has already announced its inability to house the incoming 2025 batch, causing anxiety among new NEET qualifiers. Late Bisahu Das Mahant Memorial Government Medical College (BDMMGMC) in Korba, despite official claims of “zero pending allotments,” almost all students are housed in rented private buildings far from campus, raising concerns about supervision and safety. Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) in Bilaspur while officially “backlog-free,” students complain of severe overcrowding and poor infrastructure, with rooms crammed beyond capacity, compromising hygiene and study conditions. Colleges like Rajmata Shrimati Devendra Kumari Singhdeo Government Medical College (RSDKSGMC) in Surguja, Bharat Ratna Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Memorial Government Medical College (BRLSABVMC) in Rajnandgaon, Late Shri Lakhiram Agrawal Memorial Government Medical College (LSRAMGMC) in Raigarh, Late Smt. Indira Gandhi Memorial Medical College (IGMGMC) in Kanker, and Government Medical College (GMC) in Mahasamund officially report “0” hostel pendency. However, whistleblowers from the Junior Doctors Association (JDA) in Raipur confirm these numbers are misleading.

 

They claim this “zero pendency” is achieved by delaying allotments for new batches or pushing students into shared or off-campus accommodations. “The government has rapidly expanded medical seats under NEET quota reforms, but there’s been no parallel expansion in infrastructure,” stated a resident doctor from Bastar. This has led to a “silent academic displacement” of students. Evidence of this neglect is stark at Pt. JNMMC, Raipur. A petition signed by 492 MBBS students from five batches highlights repeated applications for hostels, lack of response from the Dean’s office, and unaffordable living costs. Students reported poor hygiene, unsafe women’s hostels without CCTV, frequent water and power outages, and pest infestations.

 

Photos show abandoned construction materials, a rusting concrete frame of a stalled project, and even a mosquito-breeding construction pit on campus. These conditions directly violate National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines, which mandate that hostels must be on-campus, women’s hostels must have CCTV for security, guaranteed water, sanitation, and power backup and student intake must match available accommodation. Despite these rules, hostels in Raipur, Durg, and Jagdalpur remain unfinished. Korba and Kanker rely on rented facilities. Girls’ hostels lack security and wardens, and no proper grievance redressal system is in place. “Hostels are not favors. They’re a regulatory necessity. Delay now risks NEET seat cuts and NMC warnings,” warned a Raipur-based JDA affiliate. Dr. Rakesh Gupta, Patron of the Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA) at Pt. JNMMC, acknowledged the dire situation. He noted that students’ patience has worn thin, leading them to protest in front of the Chief Minister. Dr. Gupta, also head of the CPCC Medical Cell, criticized the Health Minister, saying the minister cared more about appearances and grand events than actual plans and getting ready for challenges which he argued, led to the current problems. The ongoing crisis threatens the academic future and well-being of hundreds of medical students in Chhattisgarh, calling for immediate and comprehensive action from the state government.