The recent fee hike announced by the Haryana Government for MBBS course fees to Rs 10 lakh per annum which worked out to be Rs 40 lakh for the full course has placed students in a quandary.
The state government’’s new policy on the revision of fee structure for the MBBS course has caused a huge political and academic storm with opposition parties joining medical students and aspirants and protesting.
AIIMS Students Association Wednesday wrote to the state education ministry regarding the issue as well. The fee has risen by over 40% and now, candidates have to also submit a “bond fee” annually, bringing the total cost to around Rs 10 lakh per year.
From batch 2020, in various Government Medical Colleges in Haryana.
MBBS student either have to pay 3.71lakh₹ + 7 year bond Or 10Lakh₹/annumGone are days when poor students dream of becoming doctors.@PMOIndia @cmohry @MoHFW_INDIA @drharshvardhan pic.twitter.com/ggBdeloiS0
— ALL INDIA MEDICAL STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION (@official_aimsa) November 8, 2020
Students and politicians are demanding that Haryana’s BJP government rollback its November 6 announcement.
Condemning the policy, AIIMS Students’ Association said that the recent policy does more harm than good for medical aspirants in the state. By increasing the fees to 3.71 lakh rupees and a 7-year bond or 36.28 lakh rupees in total, the Government of Haryana seems to be trying to make sure that students from economically weaker sections cannot become doctors.
“Not only is the notification unclear in many parts but also the sudden increase in the annual fee and inclusion of bond in the name of incentivizing doctors for Government service, is imposing a sudden financial burden on all students. As the country still struggles in the midst of the pandemic, it is the medical profession that stands between life and death. Equating education with money? Is that how the profession of medicine will be rewarded,” the AIIMS Student Association said.
From batch 2020, in various Government Medical Colleges in Haryana.
MBBS student either have to pay 3.71lakh₹ + 7 year bond Or 10Lakh₹/annumGone are days when poor students dream of becoming doctors.@cmohry @MoHFW_INDIA @drharshvardhan @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/yqhnHa1pZD
— Dr.Jitendra Singh🇮🇳 (@DrJsinghRajawat) November 9, 2020
“How can a family with an annual income of less than 6 lakh rupees be able to repay a loan of 36.28 lakh rupees? Equating education with money? Is that how the profession of medicine shall be rewarded? The state of Haryana shall witness the fall of medical education and the faith of people in the state policies,” added AIIMS Student Association.
IMA President criticizes the Move
Indian Medical Association (IMA) President Rajan Sharma has also criticized the Haryana government’s decision to increase the fees of state government medical colleges.
When asked about the government, Rajan Sharma said, “I strongly condemn this decision. Are we doing it for the students of poor families who take admission in government colleges after passing the entrance examination?” This decision is being opposed in Haryana.
Rajan Sharma said, “In the ordinance, it is clearly written that if a student comes to the Haryana government job, the government will provide a loan, the government will pay EMI but there is no guarantee of employment. This ordinance What was the need to bring?
To encourage doctors to choose the medical service of the Haryana government, the state government enacted a policy on 6 November stating that the candidates selected for the MBBS degree course in government medical colleges executed an annual bond for Rs 10 lakh.
Candidates can pay the amount for the loan completely without bond or the state government will provide them the facility to get an education loan for this bond amount. If the candidate gets employment with the state government, then according to the policy, the government will pay the annual installment of the loan.
Haryana Medical Education and Research Department has revised the fees and introduced bonds for students, for which a system of loans has been put in place.
