Three girls, hailing from Kottayam, who joined a nursing course at a private nursing college in Thirupati, Andhra Pradesh, filed a petition before Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, alleging that they were cheated and lost money and certificates as the college lacks mandatory facilities.
Speaking at a press conference in Kottayam on Tuesday along with their parents, students said they have paid Rs. 1.45 lakh as fees and submitted the originals of the SSLC and Plus Two certificates in the college. But the college authorities were refusing to return the certificates and money and hence they were unable to join any other courses anywhere.
It all commenced, after the students, Eliya Johny of Kaduthuruthi, Archana Nair of Nedumkunnam, and Anjali C Nair got admission in August 2017 through an educational consulting agency based in Alappuzha. "We trusted the agency and paid the amount through them. However, we realized the cheating only after classes commenced in the college, which lacked minimum infrastructural facilities. There were no educational facilities for running a nursing course and only one teacher takes all the sessions," they said.
The students alleged they were denied hospital training and lab entry after they raised complaints against ill-treatment in the college. "When we were mentally harassed and threatened not to permit us to write exams, we decided to leave the college. Though we approached the consulting agency, they played down our complaints stating everything will be alright soon. We need to get back at least our certificates to join for any other courses," students said.
The students returned to their homes on May 27 and filed a petition to the CM through Kaduthuruthi MLA Mons Joseph and Kanjirappalli MLA N Jayraj. Meanwhile, Eliya's father lodged a complaint at Kaduthuruthi police station in connection with the incident.
All three students joined the course, availing bank loan and a huge financial burden is awaiting them. They are now planning to go forward with their complaints to opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. "When we asked the agency to return our money, its owner threatened us that he is the state functionary of political organization and the consequence will be severe if we go ahead with the complaint," said Eliya's father K S Johny. Archana's father M R Anil Kumar and Anjali's father Chandrasekharan Nair were also present during the press meet.
