Many a tears were shed in the last few days by meritorious MBBS aspirants across the state as they did not have enough money to fulfill their dreams of becoming a doctor.
The spot for admissions to Kerala’s self-financing medical colleges had become site of despair and heart break as many of them were seen leaving the scene weeping. Most of them were forced to cancel their admissions after the annual fees were hiked to more than double by the Supreme Court three days ago.
The SC had ordered that the bank guarantees worth Rs 6 lakhs be deposited in a separate bank account until the fee structure is finally determined by a Fee Regulation Commission, which is likely to be completed by October. The announcement of an additional amount of Rs 6 lakh turned into an insurmountable obstacle for many students, whose families have already borrowed Rs 5 lakh from banks and private money lenders.
"The court verdict destroyed all our dreams. I am a farmer and it is beyond my means to shell out this much amount. Now we are left with not many options,'' said Asokan K.S., whose son Sreejith had received allotment in the first phase.
In fact, the Supreme Court only exposed the government's lack of preparedness to handle the admission procedures.
The admission fiasco is seen as one of the biggest failures on the part of the LDF government, particularly that of the health department. The government, following a massive protest by parents and students announced that it would assist students with financial difficulties in obtaining bank guarantees.
“The government will ensure all help to the students to tackle the issue. Nobody should cancel admission just because of the bank guarantee. We will also provide scholarships to a majority of poor students. We cannot offer bank guarantees to all students, but we will offer financial support to poor students to secure the bank guarantee,'' Health Minister K.K. Shailaja had said.
But this last minute announcement helped none and only exposed the department's lack of preparedness further. Students and parents are still afraid that the Fee Regulation Commission is not likely to reduce the fee below the level decided by the Supreme Court.
It is learnt that CM gave an ear-full to health minister and health secretary Rajeev Sadanandan over the fiasco. "Clear instructions have been given to the department concerned to draft guidelines to rein in self financing colleges by next academic year. The CM has categorically told them that next year's admission has to happen smoothly at any cost," said an official with the CM's office.
The CM is also learnt to have given instructions to check and verify the standard of education and infrastructure facilities in these self financing institutions.
CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the government would bring in legislation to control the managements. “The chief minister has made it clear that no eligible students will lose their opportunity for medical education. The Supreme Court verdict in effect says only the rich need to pursue medical education,” Kodiyeri said.
That the government was unable to handle the situation was there for every one to see. The opposition parties rightly cornered the government on the issue. Opposition leader in the state assembly, Ramesh Chennithala, alleged that the government deliberately delayed the admission process to help private college managements.
BJP state president Kummanom Rajasekharan slammed the state government over the issue, saying the LDF government cannot absolve itself from responsibility of the current situation. "The lapses and inefficiency of the health minister led to the present situation", he alleged.
Even the coalition partner CPI had criticised the government. CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran had said that the government should convene an all party meeting to evolve a consensus on the issue ahead of special session. "It is the responsibility of the government to clear the dark shadows hovering over the state because of mushrooming of self financing colleges. Education sector going into the hands of traders will spell disaster for the state," he said.
