In Rohtak, medical students march against Haryana’s Rs 40-lakh bond policy

ROHTAK: The students of MBBS first and second years at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) on Tuesday staged a protest march for demanding a rollback of Haryana’s bond fee policy that will force them to pay Rs 40 lakh during the four-year medical course.
Haryana Medical Education Research has issued a notification dated November 6, asking fresh MBBS students to pay this mandatory fee. Student Pankaj Bittu said: “Only a few students selected under this year’s all-India quota could make it to the prestigious institute. Majority backed out because it couldn’t afford to pay Rs 10 lakh for the first year. When we have a good rank in NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test), why are we being forced to pay Rs 40 lakh for MBBS course?”
The protest march was from Dean’s Park to Medical Mor. Bittu, who led marchers, said the policy put the onus of picking a government job on MBBS student after completing studies.
“At least 800 students graduate from government medical colleges every year and the bond binds everyone to serve in government sector. But where are the vacancies to accommodate 800 doctors every year?”
MBBS student Hardik Bansal said: “PGIMS is forcing new students to pay the bond money at the time of document verification. This has upset NEET’s toppers, who have started looking for government colleges outside the state. This will be Haryana’s loss.” MBBS student Priya Kaushik said: “The mandatory service bond has shut the doors on bright student who come from poor families.”
PGIMS director Dr S S Lohchab said: “The policy was introduced to get more doctors into government institutes.” Asked about disadvantage to bright students from low-income families, the director said the government had a study-loan schemes for them.