AIIMS rejects Thorat panel report
Ajay
AIIMS rejects Thorat panel report
Aarti Dhar| Report alleged discrimination against SC/ST students |
AIIMS questions Thorat panel methodology
There could not be a bigger lie than the AIIMS report: panel member
NEW DELHI: The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has "rejected in totality" the report of the Thorat Committee instituted by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry to inquire into the allegations of differential treatment of the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe students in the institute.
The three-member committee, headed by University Grants Commission chairperson S.K. Thorat, had accused AIIMS Director P. Venugopal of "playing a pivotal role in instigating the anti-quota agitation" that broke out after the government decided to introduce 27 per cent reservation for the Other Backward Classes in the higher educational institutions run by the government. It had also alleged large scale discrimination against the SC/ST students at the AIIMS.
The AIIMS on May 24 set up a committee of its own to review findings, observations and recommendations of the committee that "rejected" the official report describing its composition as "biased" and accusing the members of arbitrarily exceeding its terms of reference.
The eight-member AIIMS Committee, headed by C.S. Pandav, also said the allegations made in the Thorat Committee were "biased and unsubstantiated." "The Thorat Committee acted with a clear prejudice to deliver a misleading report that relies on imaginary facts, flawed methodology and baseless conclusions apparently with the sole purpose of discrediting the AIIMS," it said.
Reacting to the AIIMS committee findings, K.M. Shyamprasad, member of the Thorat Committee, told The Hindu that the report was "sheer falsehood." "There could not be a bigger lie than the AIIMS Committee report. It is just aimed to create sensation," he said adding that the committee had questioned the integrity of the Thorat Committee. "I don't know what they are trying to prove when discrimination is all prevalent," he said.
Mr. Shyam Prasad said the AIIMS Committee had questioned the methodology without knowing what methodology was used.
The AIIMS committee has accused the Thorat Committee members of interacting with certain chosen individuals without making any attempt to reach out to a wider section of stakeholders including the SC/ST faculty. "The sample of students who were interviewed was miniscule and conveniently selected. Also, the questionnaire was developed in such a way that it lead to replies in a biased direction."
The AIIMS committee, also mandated to find ways and procedures for the implementation of the observations and recommendations made to the Thorat Committee, has said allegations regarding the institute's role in the anti-reservation strike were "baseless and unjustified" as the Youth for Equality – spearheading the agitation – did not exist. Secondly, a review of the processes at that time has revealed conclusively that the AIIMS administration had taken all possible steps to contain the impact of such a nation-wide expression of resentment on the campus.
On patient care management, the report suggests that systematic steps had been taken at that time (agitation period) to ensure continuation of services when some students had gone on strike. On segregation of students on caste lines, the AIIMS committee report says it found no evidence whatsoever to substantiate the allegations made by the Thorat Committee.
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"Ours is a battle not for wealth or for power.
It is a battle for freedom. It is a battle for the reclamation of human personality."
- Dr BR Ambedkar
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