Patna: Paramedical student in the city staged a gherao on Tuesday and locked up offices on campus to demand regularisation of their academic calendars.

Patna Medical College students set up a gheraoed principal Dr Ajit Kumar Verma's office and locked up the entrance gate. They also demanded diploma courses to be upgraded into degree courses, hostel facilities and constitution of a paramedic council.

Paramedic students at Nalanda Medical College also locked up office of principal Sitaram Prasad. They too demanded for hostel arrangements.

Both principals have assured their students of communicating their demands to the health department. But Dr Verma claimed some of the demands put forth by the students were illogical.

"Paramedic students never get hostels. Why are such demands being put forward suddenly?" he said, adding that regularising the academic calendar was not under his domain.

Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) superintendent Dr Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said all of the students' demands, except making a central council of paramedics, are genuine.

Both medical colleges have around 70-80 paramedic students who pursue diploma courses for physiotherapy, lab technician and echocardiography. The courses run from six months to a year.

A senior Patna Medical College faculty member, who supported the students, said: "Chief minister Nitish Kumar's seven resolves talk about strengthening paramedic facilities in the state. So how can the government continue to avoid concerns of the paramedic students?"

MBBS seats

PMCH superintendent Prasad said the Medical Council of India (MCI)'s executive committee has given nod to the institute for taking admission in 150 seats from 2018-23.

"The MCI will now send its recommendation to the Union health and family welfare ministry," he said.