Two weeks after the state Health Department decided to set up an umbrella organisation and convert government and government-aided medical,dental and paramedical colleges into self-financed institutions the anticipation of its outcome is slowly racking up a movement among the stakeholders. The state government had proposed to scrap the 15 per cent all India quota in undergraduate courses and 50 per cent all India quota in the post graduate courses for converting these colleges into self financed institutions. But the parents and students have disapproved the move. The self-financed colleges charge a minimum annual fee of Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh for medical and dental colleges respectively at the undergraduate level while the minimum annual fee for the post graduate courses range between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. In government colleges,students pay around Rs 6,000 to 7,000 per year. Nayan Shah,General Secretary of the Parents Association of Medical,Dental and Paramedical students said: The decision will act as a drawback for students who cannot afford to pay in lakhs per year. Even scrapping the all India quota will work against the students,as they will not be received well by other states when they opt for higher education there. We will oppose this at all cost. State Secretary of the Indian Medical Association Dr Bipin Patel said: The technical and legal aspects like payment of staff and pension remains unanswered even as the issue of students interest is gaining momentum. Recently,the stakeholders held a series of meetings at the NHL Medical College campus in Ahmedabad. Former Chief Ministers Shankersinh Vaghela and Suresh Mehta met the parents during the meetings. Elsewhere,P D Vitlani,Additional Director of Medical Education,said: At present,four new medical colleges that will be coming up have been proposed under the Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society. Bringing all the government and aided medical colleges under the body is being considered for the next stage. The State Health Secretary will be the chairperson for the society. The RJ Shah Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee will decide on the fee structure of these colleges. Meanwhile,the parents and students have said they are willing to go on a strike if required.
