AIDSO condemns fee hike, NRI quota introduction in Karnataka Government Medical Colleges

Mysuru: All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO) has condemned the Karnataka government's proposal to increase the fees for PG and MBBS students and also to introduce NRI quota in Government Medical Colleges.

The organisation asked the state government to withdraw such a proposal and called it anti-Constitution and anti-public.

Medical Dialogues had recently reported about the proposals for fee hike and an introduction of NRI quota in Karnataka Medical Colleges. The information was declared at the Karnataka Legislative Council by the Minister for Medical Education D K Shivakumar during the question hour.

In response to a question by SV Sankanur (BJP), the Medical Education Minister stated that the government will implement this policy from the coming academic year 2019-2020. "The move to consider NRI quota in government colleges is a major decision," he added.

At present, NRI quota seat costs between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 45 lakh in private medical colleges.

Read Also: Soon, Government Medical Colleges in Karnataka to have NRI Quota

In addition to this proposal, the government is also considering increasing increase MBBS course fee from the present Rs 17000 to Rs 50000 and that of PG courses from Rs 50000 to Rs 3 lakhs.

Read Also: MBBS fee to be hiked by 200 percent, PG by 500 percent at Karnataka Government Medical Colleges

The students, medical colleges' authorities as well as medical associations, however, are not quite pleased with the fee hike and the idea of introducing NRI quota. While some find the former proposal a little acceptable, the latter is irrelevant to all.

In a press release issued on Thursday, AIDSO District President H M Basavaraju has alleged that the state government is trying to commercialise medical education. The Government Medical Colleges are the only hope for poor students who wanted to study Medical course but the proposed decision to hike fees will deprive them to fulfil their dream of becoming a Doctor.

The government is trying to deprive them of their well-deserved opportunity.

He said that the new proposal before the State government will allow only rich people to study Medical Course and medical field would be a sheer business.