36 nursing students did not attend PM’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ barred from leaving hostel for a week

Chandigarh: The National Institute of Nursing Education, PGIMER, Chandigarh, has issued a notice banning 36 nursing students from leaving the hostel for a week for the reason they did not attend the 100th episode of the Prime Minister's popular show 'Mann Ki Baat' held on April 30.

According to a letter issued by Dr Sukhpal Kaur, the principal of the institute, the students were informed that it was mandatory for all first and third-year students to attend the programme. Those who failed to attend were warned that their “outing” privileges would be cancelled.

Despite reminders during the night and morning rounds of the hostel, 36 students failed to attend the programme, prompting disciplinary action.

Dr Kaur defended the decision, stating that it was taken to maintain discipline, as students are required to attend many guest lectures and programmes organised by the department. She clarified that the action was not taken specifically because the students failed to participate in the Mann Ki Baat programme.

However, Manoj Lubana, state president of the Chandigarh Youth Congress, criticised the decision, and called it a “dictatorial decision”. Lubana claimed that the intention of the PGI was to punish and harass the 36 girl students and suggested that the action was taken under pressure from the administration.

He further warned that if the decision impacted the students’ academic progress in the future, the Youth Congress would protest on a large scale.

The decision has sparked a debate on social media, with some users supporting the disciplinary action, while others criticised it as an infringement of the students’ rights. The institute has not commented further on the matter.