NEW DELHI: Haryana’s policy of saddling MBBS graduates in state government-run colleges with a Rs 36.3 lakh bond in addition to tuition fees if they do not serve seven years in state-owned institutions has meant that many high scorers in NEET from the state are opting to seek admissions outside Haryana. On the other hand, those from outside are giving Haryana a wide berth.
The bond agreement states that if a graduate does not join government service, “then repayment of the loan instalments (including principal and interest) will be sole responsibility of the candidate”.
Even PGIMS, Rohtak, among the most reputed colleges in North India, had just one candidate among the top 2000 ranks in 2022 opting for it in round one of counselling for the all-India quota, compared to 27 in 2020. In effect, these colleges are turning into preserves of the rich rather than the best.
In round one of Haryana state counselling, out of the top 50 ranks in 2020-21, 37 had chosen PGIMS, Rohtak, while 11 chose ESI Medical College, Faridabad, which is not under the state government. This year in round one, just 15 chose PGIMS, while 29 chose ESI.
What is irking students is that after burdening them with Rs 36.3 lakh, the bond agreement states that the government cannot guarantee a job. In the last round of doctors’ recruitment done by the state government, the number of applicants was more than double the posts advertised, indicating that there was no shortage of doctors willing to join government service.
The Haryana State Medical Teachers Association (HSTMA) has also expressed concern about the impact of the policy on the quality of intake. In a letter to the PGIMS director on October 31, the association stated “meritorious students are avoiding admissions in government medical colleges” and added that this “will cause a dangerous decline in education quality and patient care”.
The government notification on the bond policy issued in November 2020 stated that it was for “incentivising doctors to opt for Haryana government medical service in any public health institution (civil hospitals, community health centres, primary health centres etc or any health institution established by the state govt) or government medical college to strengthen the medical facilities in the state”.
The government advertised in January 2022 for 890 posts for MBBS graduates. By August 12, it had hired 847 doctors at Rs 56,100 per month. Dr RB Jain, president of Haryana State Medical Teachers Association, told TOI that there were more than 2,000 applicants. “Maybe, a few of the reserved posts could not be filled. But obviously, there is no shortage. We have surplus and it’s going to get worse as several more medical colleges are in the pipeline,” said Dr Jain.
“IDBI bank is the one which will be providing the loan of Rs 36 lakh. Students will be left to the mercy of a private bank even if the government does not provide a job,” asked one of the students protesting against this policy.
The 2020 notification also stated that the policy for those wishing to join post-graduate courses would be notified later. “Till today there has been no clarification regarding the policy on post graduation. Does the government expect that all MBBS graduates from Haryana’s government medical colleges will wait to finish seven years of government service before they can do post graduation? What if I get a seat for PG outside the state? What if I get one in a government medical college in Haryana,” asked a student.
Students from all government medical colleges demonstrated at PGIMS, Rohtak on Tuesday to protest against the government’s bond policy.
The bond agreement states that if a graduate does not join government service, “then repayment of the loan instalments (including principal and interest) will be sole responsibility of the candidate”.
Even PGIMS, Rohtak, among the most reputed colleges in North India, had just one candidate among the top 2000 ranks in 2022 opting for it in round one of counselling for the all-India quota, compared to 27 in 2020. In effect, these colleges are turning into preserves of the rich rather than the best.
In round one of Haryana state counselling, out of the top 50 ranks in 2020-21, 37 had chosen PGIMS, Rohtak, while 11 chose ESI Medical College, Faridabad, which is not under the state government. This year in round one, just 15 chose PGIMS, while 29 chose ESI.
What is irking students is that after burdening them with Rs 36.3 lakh, the bond agreement states that the government cannot guarantee a job. In the last round of doctors’ recruitment done by the state government, the number of applicants was more than double the posts advertised, indicating that there was no shortage of doctors willing to join government service.
The Haryana State Medical Teachers Association (HSTMA) has also expressed concern about the impact of the policy on the quality of intake. In a letter to the PGIMS director on October 31, the association stated “meritorious students are avoiding admissions in government medical colleges” and added that this “will cause a dangerous decline in education quality and patient care”.
The government notification on the bond policy issued in November 2020 stated that it was for “incentivising doctors to opt for Haryana government medical service in any public health institution (civil hospitals, community health centres, primary health centres etc or any health institution established by the state govt) or government medical college to strengthen the medical facilities in the state”.
The government advertised in January 2022 for 890 posts for MBBS graduates. By August 12, it had hired 847 doctors at Rs 56,100 per month. Dr RB Jain, president of Haryana State Medical Teachers Association, told TOI that there were more than 2,000 applicants. “Maybe, a few of the reserved posts could not be filled. But obviously, there is no shortage. We have surplus and it’s going to get worse as several more medical colleges are in the pipeline,” said Dr Jain.
“IDBI bank is the one which will be providing the loan of Rs 36 lakh. Students will be left to the mercy of a private bank even if the government does not provide a job,” asked one of the students protesting against this policy.
The 2020 notification also stated that the policy for those wishing to join post-graduate courses would be notified later. “Till today there has been no clarification regarding the policy on post graduation. Does the government expect that all MBBS graduates from Haryana’s government medical colleges will wait to finish seven years of government service before they can do post graduation? What if I get a seat for PG outside the state? What if I get one in a government medical college in Haryana,” asked a student.
Students from all government medical colleges demonstrated at PGIMS, Rohtak on Tuesday to protest against the government’s bond policy.
