CH News
Ajay Kamath, the state Secretary of AIDSO, has vehemently opposed the Medical Education Directorate’s consideration of introducing an NRI quota in government medical colleges.
The Directorate of Medical Education has sought clearance from the National Medical Commission to implement an NRI (Non-Residential Indian) quota in government medical colleges. This move has drawn strong criticism from AIDSO, as it believes it will pave the way for the privatization of these institutions.
In 2018, a similar proposal was successfully opposed by medical students in Karnataka. Currently, the annual fees in government medical colleges have soared to ₹80,000, making it unaffordable for economically disadvantaged students. AIDSO fears that the introduction of an NRI quota will further escalate fees and restrict admission opportunities for deserving students from lower-income backgrounds.
AIDSO contends that the implementation of an NRI quota in government institutions undermines the democratic principles of education and exacerbates disparities on campuses. They argue that a shift away from democratic education principles could hinder the ability of economically disadvantaged students to pursue medical education, ultimately impacting the quality of healthcare in the country.
Furthermore, the State Government’s purported lack of funds to sustain these institutions is viewed by AIDSO as a pretext for justifying future fee hikes. They caution that if this trend continues, it could deter aspiring doctors from lower-income backgrounds from pursuing medical education in Karnataka.
