This is in regards to the so called Expose by The Times of India (TOI) newspaper. The Capitation fee issue has been an open secret in the Medical fraternity. Well, the hefty money that is demanded by Medical colleges ( Deemed Institutes ) as donation are run by big time politicians. Many of these gentlemen are called Education Barrons. It is estimated that in the state of Karnataka the business of Medical Seats runs in few hundred of crores every year. The so called entrance examinations for the MBBS and PG coursed are eyewash. Even the candidates who secure good ranks in these entrance exams are asked for donation ( In tens of lacs) making a mockery of the exam.
Most of the politicians from Karnataka and Maharashtra are from the ruling party that is Congress Party.
It is a definite challenge for the Medical Council of India, the Government of India, Prime Minister, Health and HRD minister to take a action against these culprits. We all know that the toothless MCI is corrupt and it will as usual will shrug off the responsibility.
I really congratulate TOI, which has highlight this issue.
Please go throught the thoughtful article publish by TOI
" Six years ago, the Supreme Court ordered an unambiguous ban on capitation fees. But as you can see, the system is still thriving—seats in medical colleges are still being sold or even hawked to the highest bidder. This is making a mockery of merit in education and eroding trust in specialised studies in India. The colleges themselves are, of course, directly involved in this ugly money-making racket, but it now appears the so-called regulator, the Medical Council of India, is also complicit in it. MCI president Ketan Desai is himself on the board of one of the colleges that has been caught asking for lakhs of rupees for an MBBS seat. According to the Delhi high court, the MCI is a “den of corruption’’, and yet the government has done nothing to clean it up and to bestow the regulator with moral fibre.
Actually, the government is possibly more culpable than just negligent. It has granted ‘deemed university’ status to unproven and at times questionable educational bodies. The status of ‘deemed university’ is usually given to an institution that has been attached to a university and over a period of time proved to be efficient, mature and responsible enough to be able to work autonomously. There are now instances of educational institutions being conferred ‘deemed university’ status even before the first batch of students passes out. This would suggest not just bureaucratic recklessness, but possible complicity. It is never too late to set things right, provided there is commitment to education. It’s still possible to send out a firm signal against capitation fees by derecognising the two offending colleges, thus making their degrees worthless. That would be a deterrent not just for the colleges but also for students willing to pay to get in. An even stronger signal would go out if the Union minister who is said to be the chairman of one of these colleges is asked to step down. Secondly, the MCI should be purged, its mandate clarified and reaffirmed by making its head a person of integrity, competence and proven service. Right now, huge amounts are spent on MCI elections by people whose sole aim—say many reputed doctors—is to enrich themselves.
Above all, the government must show that it is committed to merit and integrity in education. The very thought of these colleges disgorging armies of mediocre doctors on an unsuspecting public is frightening. PM Manmohan Singh and HRD minister Kapil Sibal—both products of merit—must be acutely aware of this. They must reassess the educational credentials and integrity of ‘deemed universities’ and bring the necessary rigour in official procedures. Above all, they must think longterm and recognise that this situation has arisen because demand vastly outstrips the supply of doctors, creating the craze for medical college seats. An action plan must therefore be worked out rapidly to increase the number of quality medical colleges in thec country."
Most of the politicians from Karnataka and Maharashtra are from the ruling party that is Congress Party.
It is a definite challenge for the Medical Council of India, the Government of India, Prime Minister, Health and HRD minister to take a action against these culprits. We all know that the toothless MCI is corrupt and it will as usual will shrug off the responsibility.
I really congratulate TOI, which has highlight this issue.
Please go throught the thoughtful article publish by TOI
" Six years ago, the Supreme Court ordered an unambiguous ban on capitation fees. But as you can see, the system is still thriving—seats in medical colleges are still being sold or even hawked to the highest bidder. This is making a mockery of merit in education and eroding trust in specialised studies in India. The colleges themselves are, of course, directly involved in this ugly money-making racket, but it now appears the so-called regulator, the Medical Council of India, is also complicit in it. MCI president Ketan Desai is himself on the board of one of the colleges that has been caught asking for lakhs of rupees for an MBBS seat. According to the Delhi high court, the MCI is a “den of corruption’’, and yet the government has done nothing to clean it up and to bestow the regulator with moral fibre.
Actually, the government is possibly more culpable than just negligent. It has granted ‘deemed university’ status to unproven and at times questionable educational bodies. The status of ‘deemed university’ is usually given to an institution that has been attached to a university and over a period of time proved to be efficient, mature and responsible enough to be able to work autonomously. There are now instances of educational institutions being conferred ‘deemed university’ status even before the first batch of students passes out. This would suggest not just bureaucratic recklessness, but possible complicity. It is never too late to set things right, provided there is commitment to education. It’s still possible to send out a firm signal against capitation fees by derecognising the two offending colleges, thus making their degrees worthless. That would be a deterrent not just for the colleges but also for students willing to pay to get in. An even stronger signal would go out if the Union minister who is said to be the chairman of one of these colleges is asked to step down. Secondly, the MCI should be purged, its mandate clarified and reaffirmed by making its head a person of integrity, competence and proven service. Right now, huge amounts are spent on MCI elections by people whose sole aim—say many reputed doctors—is to enrich themselves.
Above all, the government must show that it is committed to merit and integrity in education. The very thought of these colleges disgorging armies of mediocre doctors on an unsuspecting public is frightening. PM Manmohan Singh and HRD minister Kapil Sibal—both products of merit—must be acutely aware of this. They must reassess the educational credentials and integrity of ‘deemed universities’ and bring the necessary rigour in official procedures. Above all, they must think longterm and recognise that this situation has arisen because demand vastly outstrips the supply of doctors, creating the craze for medical college seats. An action plan must therefore be worked out rapidly to increase the number of quality medical colleges in thec country."
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