Pune: Students from the SC/ST community studying post-graduate courses in medicine have written to Minister for Social Justice and Special Assistance Rajkumar Badole to waive their fee. There are about 1,000 students from SC/ST in the State who have to pay around Rs 75,000 per annum as fee to study medicine at the post-graduate level in government colleges.
Speaking to Sakal Times, Dr Datta Shete from BJ Medical College said a written request was handed over to the minister.
“The fee for post-graduation is very high in Maharashtra compared to other states. We paid around Rs 75,000 for admission. The fee is increasing every year. The government signs a bond of Rs 50 lakh from us in response to the service we give at the general hospital,” said Dr Shete.
He added that in case the students who do post graduation from private colleges, the stipend they get is very high compared to government-run institutions.
“Moreover, there is a huge burden on students from the SC/ST community for sustaining themselves. Hence we have requested the authorities to waive their fees,” Dr Shete further said.
Speaking about this, minister Rajkumar Badole noted that the due cognisance has been taken of the request.
“The students were asked to meet me in Mumbai in the coming week so that necessary steps are taken,” said Badole.
During the submission of the letter, students representatives from all over Maharashtra, Dr Santosh Bhokare, Dr Satej Sonkamble, Dr Ketan Deshmukh and Anand Gaikwad from Pune, Dr Sanjay Totawar from Nagpur, Dr Pravin Taware and Dr Ramnath Khade from Mumbai, Dr Sharad Salukhe from Aurangabad and Dr Datta Puri from Solapur were present.
