Rourkela homeopathy college students fall ill during hunger strike over 8-point demands

Several students of Utkalmani Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital in Rourkela’s Sector-21 have fallen seriously ill amid an intensified protest that has been ongoing for more than a month. 

According to sources, the students have been staging demonstrations to press for the fulfilment of their eight-point charter of demands. However, the situation escalated sharply over the last 45 hours after several of them launched an indefinite hunger strike.

According to sources, multiple students participating in the fast collapsed due to extreme weakness and dehydration. Two of them were rushed to the Rourkela Government Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment. Fellow students said the condition of several others is also deteriorating, but they remain determined to continue the agitation.

Their demands include an increase in PG and PhD seats, implementation of a dynamic stipend, and reforms related to academic infrastructure and administrative processes. Student leaders alleged that despite weeks of protest and repeated attempts to communicate with the authorities, neither the college management nor the district administration has offered any formal response or initiated dialogue.

Tension prevails on the campus as concerns mount over the health and safety of students on hunger strike. Many of them expressed frustration, stating that they have been left with no option but to adopt stronger modes of protest after prolonged inaction from the authorities.

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Parents and guardians of some students have also raised alarm over the worsening health conditions, urging the administration to intervene before the situation turns critical. As of now, the students have vowed to continue their agitation until concrete assurances or decisions are made regarding their demands.