Hidden charges by private medical univs costing dreams of students

Report by- Vivek Singh Chauhan

Lucknow: The spectre of excess fee in private medical colleges has reared its head again, hence shattering the dreams of several students who were willing to pursue their MBBS and BDS courses.

The counseling for admission in medical courses, held on Wednesday at the Ram Manohar Lohia Medical Institute here, was a sheer mockery to the fee regulating bodies as ‘agents’ of private colleges were demanding excessive fees amounting to a whopping Rs 2.5 lakhs.

Students have accused renowned institutions including Hind Medical College and Babu Banarasi Das (BBD) University of secretly asking excess money pretending as ‘fees’.

Manoj Tanwer, father of an MBBS aspirant, said, “We are asked to pay an additional Rs 2.5 Lakhs for sports fee and registration charges but anything as such have not been mentioned on the college website.”

Parents said that these colleges have been guzzling extra money from students as any such expense was not mentioned in the fee structure. The unprecedented fees by college administration only make students coming from elite families eligible for admissions.

“I have paid Rs 3.42 lakh for locking my MBBS seat at Hind Medical College and will have to pay another Rs 3 lakh as hostel fee,” says another parent Shiwani Goswami.

The counseling centre also observed lack of arrangements as students faced difficulties in finding the respective counseling rooms.

Meanwhile, there were also few lucky students who secured their admissions in government medical colleges. “All my good deeds resulted into an opportunity today as I can pursue my dream now. I will work hard to make it come true,” said a student Chandini, after getting admission in a government medical college.

“Thanks to Almighty as I have paid the genuine Rs 51,600 as fee,” she added.

Another parent RK Sharma looked concerned about his child’s future as he was short of money after the hidden charges levied by the private college came into existence.

Sharma seeks government’s intervention to withdraw rule which makes hostel compulsory for students getting admissions to medical colleges. He also demanded a fee regulatory body for hostel fees.

Authorities, however, denied talking to media, presenting themselves too busy in their works.