PG Medical Admissions: RUHS students decry quota admissions

Jaipur: The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admissions to post-graduate (PG) courses in medicine that were declared on January 15 , had students from private medical colleges on cloud nine. They were confident that with ranks as good as theirs they would be able to apply in government colleges that charge less fee. Unfortunately, students are now facing strong disappointment with the rules of admission. An anomaly in law does not allow them the benefit, as only those from government medical colleges can be considered for 50% quota reserved for students from the state for post graduate courses.

829 PG seats in the government institutes of the state's are filled on the basis of 50% from the All-India quota and 50% from the state.

"We have an MBBS degree and we have scored well in the NEET-PG. Our college too was affiliated to Rajasthan University of Health Sciences until 2010. Ours is the first batch to have finished MBBS after MGUMST (Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences & Technology) became a university in its own right. But it too is recognized under the same Act of the legislature. We should not be discriminated against. We are residents of the state, we have done our MBBS from a state university and we have scored well in NEET-PG; we should find accommodation in the state quota. Now, we have no recourse but to approach the courts. That will be a long struggle," said one student told TOI. He said his rank in the NEET would otherwise have guaranteed an admission to an MD course in a government institute for him.

Speaking about escalated cost of courses at private colleges as compared to government institutions, the students revealed that while the private institute too offered MD courses, they were extremely costly.A private medical college charged Rs 22 lac per year for three years; while a government institute's MD Course could be completed in Rs 3,000 per year.

Having given an idea about fee hikes at private medical colleges, the students further mentioned how their course that started in 2011 had costed Rs.13 lac, while the new batch would have to pay Rs. 16 lac for their MBBS course.

Students also spoke about admissions to MD courses becoming more difficult with passing years. As other private universities had also come up since 2011.

"This is arbitrary and unjustified, but the government is determined to stick to the letter of law rather than its spirit," the students, requesting anonymity, told TOI.

When these rules were framed there were no private universities said the students. Now the number has gone up to 5000, they revealed .

They called for amendment of rules by the government. so that newcomers were not discriminated against.

Health Minister, Kalicharan Saraf while speaking to the TOI said, "This matter has been brought to my notice. We are examining it to see how to make the necessary amendment so that there is no unfair discrimination."