Economically backward up for 50% fee reimbursements by government

Mumbai: Medical students from economically backward classes (EBC) will be given a 50% reimbursement of their fee from 2018-19. This is being done under the state government's Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj EBC scholarship scheme.

The move implies that 50% fee of students whose annual family income is between Rs. 2.5 lakh and Rs. 6 lakh will be reimbursed in their aadhar linked accounts.Earlier, the interest on the education loans taken by students pursuing MBBS and BDS was returned. This new move will bring to an end, the practice of paying loans on medical education from the next academic session stated the government.

The credit for this move goes to the Maharashtrian community of the state which came onto the streets in opposition to on this matter and urged the government for reimbursement of fee instead of the interest amount alone.

The government 's new decision will apply to students studying MBBS and BDS courses in private unaided colleges and universities.

According to a Management Council of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences official, the MBBS and BDS fee differs in various colleges. The dental course fee ranges from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for a period of three lakhs.

"Average fee for one year of MBBS is Rs 55,000 and above. In some well-known private colleges, the fee extends up to Rs 1.5 lakh per year. The MBBS course is of four-and-a-half years," said the official to TOI.

According to statistics released by the Medical Council of India, there are 7,270 seats available in Maharashtra for MBBS of which 2,960 seats are in government colleges, 1,920 seats in private institutions and the remaining 2,390 seats are in deemed universities and self-funded institutions.

The government dental college's seat number for the year 2017-18 is 260, while the private dental college number stands at 2,300 seats. The government's fee reimbursement decision will not only benefit students getting admissions in the present academic year, but also apply for those already pursuing medical and dental courses in the state.