At Ground Zero of the quota protests
Close to collapse, Sachin Maggo has just broken his hunger strike after eight days.
"I went on hunger strike because I want the government to help the backward classes by starting more primary schools," he told rediff.com "By imposing these quotas, the government is working in a reverse direction."
"When you sit on a strike at AIIMS you know that how important it is to protest the political demand for quotas. We are the center of gravity. We know that movement is growing from here. The message is spread from here by the media," he added.
A core committee manages the agitation.
Of the committee's eleven members, five are students while six are resident doctors at New Delhi's four medical colleges.
Vishal Sharma, Amitasha Sinha, Sasmit Sarangi, Riten, Safal, Manav, Neha and other members of the core committee meet every morning to chalk out the day's programme.
The agitators have formed nine committees -- Mass mobilization, Coordination, Finance, Legal, Lawn coordination Committee (where the fasting students sit and sleep), Media committee, Communication, Security and Events planning.
The pandal where the fasting students and other protestors are based is located inside the AIIMS premises. It has coolers and fans; some students organise bottles of mineral water for the fasting doctors. Dr Vishal Sharma, a member of the core committee, told rediff.com: "We are short of funds, but not short of supporters."
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