Karnataka: Government medical colleges in demand

Bengaluru: Though the state government has struck a deal with the private medical and dental colleges over seat matrix and fee structure, the students are worried over the possibility of having to pay a higher fee at private colleges. Hence most of them are opting for admission to government-run medical colleges, even though they lack good facilities and infrastructure.

According to the sources at the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), which has started the first round of option entry for the allocation of seats, most of the top ranking CET medical rank holders are selecting the government medical colleges, including those that got permission recently. They fear that private medical colleges, which have agreed to surrender 40 per cent of their MBBS seats for CET students at an annual fee structure of Rs 70,000, may demand around Rs 1.25 lakh as extra fee.

An officer said, “Till last year these colleges were demanding up to Rs  75,000 per year as extra fee. But this year it expected to go up to Rs 1.25 lakh. In the absence of any mechanism to ensure justice to the students, colleges are openly demanding extra fee. So for all the toppers the first preference is the 18 government-run medical colleges,” he said.

“Many government-run medical colleges are known for poor infrastructure, including hostel, labs etc. But students prefer these colleges against sophisticated private colleges because of the fear of extra fee,” he added.

 ‘Unfair criticism’
A representative of a private medical college told this newspaper that private medical colleges are being unfairly targeted in the name of extra fee. “Even for Std I, annual fee in a CBSE school in the city is around

Rs 90,000, where teachers are paid less and infrastructure cost is also less. But the government and students want a MBBS seat for Rs 70,000 per year. Is it possible to ensure quality education in this fee structure,” he questioned.

What students say
Students busy with the option entry process confirmed that they are preferring government run medical colleges. “Frankly speaking I do not know where the newly-started Kodagu, Chamarajnagar or Karwar medical colleges are located. I don't know the facilities. But I cannot select a private medical college as they charge hefty extra fee,” said a medical seat aspirant from the city.