Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has promised to address the issues raised by Dr Govinda KC, an anti-corruption crusader, after a discussion with his ministers and the parties in the ruling alliance.

A delegation of five led by Dr KC met Deuba on Thursday to draw his attention to a range of issues that includes malpractices in medical education, impeachment of Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana and concerns of the women activists from Banke. On Sunday, he had issued a seven-point demand to the government saying the government must address his concerns without delay.

“The prime minister said he would direct the respective ministers to address the demands raised by Dr KC,” advocate Om Prakash Aryal, who was in the five-member delegation, told the Post. “With regard to the demand for impeaching the chief justice, he has assured to discuss the issue with the parties in the government. We are optimistic that he lives up to his commitment.”

Different medical colleges, flouting the ceiling from the Medical Education Commission, have been compelling the students to pay additional fees in millions. The commission in September 2019 fixed Rs4.02 million fee for the MBBS students inside Kathmandu Valley and Rs4.44 million for the rest of the country. There was an increment of around Rs2.2 million in both categories.

In addition to the fee set by the commission, the colleges have set fees as high as Rs 240,000 for internship, Rs 25,000 for registration, an annual fee of Rs20,000 for the internet and examination fee of Rs11,000 per year. They are also compelling the students to stay in college hostels paying Rs12,000 monthly on twin sharing basis in addition to Rs 7,500 for food. Some of the colleges like the Kathmandu Medical College, Sinamangal and the Nobel Medical College, Biratnagar, are not allowing the students who haven’t paid the additional fee to attend the classes.

“The college is using goons to prevent us from entering the college premises. The government remains a mere spectator,” complained a student from the Nobel Medical College over the phone. Deuba, according to the delegation member, has assured to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs to book the college owners on fraud charges.

During the meeting Deuba also assured to address the demands of the activists from Banke who have been staging a sit-in for the last 34 days in Maitighar demanding justice in the cases of murder and disappearances. A group of 16 including 14 women activists from Banke are on sit-in since November 25 demanding actions those responsible for the murder of Nakunni Dhobi and disappearance of Nirmala Kurmi.

Dr KC has also demanded Deuba to take action against the officials at BP Koirala Academy of Health Sciences and the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training. He is also for formulating criteria for public sector appointments. Establishment of the government medical colleges in Sudur Paschim Province and Province 1 are the other demands of the agitating surgeon.

“Deuba has assured us that he will follow up on every issue whether they have been implemented once he directs the respective ministries to implement them,” Pritam Subedi, an aide to Dr KC who was present at the meeting, told the Post. “We will continue to pressure the government until they are addressed.”