Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday answered questions posed by several students in the audience who were compelled to return home from war-torn Ukraine. Here are some of them
Q: (From a first-year medical student) If we have to enroll in private medical colleges here… please see to it that the cost of the course remains lenient. We have already invested a substantial amount there (Ukraine) and for most of us it would be difficult to afford steep course fees here.
Mamata Banerjee: Those who are in the first year need not worry because the MBBS course in Ukraine spans six years and ours five years. I will take permission (from the National Medical Commission) so you can study at private medical colleges in Bengal. I have called the college representatives here. For those who are in the second and third year, this scope (of studying in private colleges) will be available…. As and when we get the permission, I want to tell the representatives of the private colleges that these students will be admitted in the seats that are reserved for the state government in their colleges. They will have to be admitted in the reserved seats at the government rate. In that case, whatever the government rate works out to, will be equally shared by the state government and the private medical colleges. We have to realise they are in financial distress.
(A state government official later said since the government gives land to private colleges for infrastructure at a nominal cost, a third of their seats are set aside for the state government).
Q: (From a third-year medical student) I study at Vinnytsya (Vinnytsya National Medical University). The online classes have commenced there and the university authorities are now putting pressure on us to pay the fees. So I want to know how long it would take for the state government to make arrangements so that we could study courses at colleges here.
Mamata Banerjee: Once I get the permission, arrangements will be made. But… at least three months will be required to process. You have to understand a new set-up has to be readied.
Q: (From a fourth-year medical student) The NMC (National Medical Commission) has told us that we won’t be able to take admission here. Please see to it that we don’t lose years.
Mamata Banerjee: Has the NMC told you that they will not grant permission?
When I am going to get you admitted, why will the commission have any objection? When I am going to get you admitted, provide you space and finance the study, why will they object to this?
If they object, I will go to Delhi with all of you to meet the commission.
Q: (From a fifth-year medical student) We had to leave Ukraine and could not bring our birth certificates, higher secondary certificates. Please tell us what could be done to retrieve those documents.
Mamata Banerjee: If you were born here and studied here, there won’t be any problem in retrieving those. You will get them from here.
Q: (From a first-year engineering student) I am in the first semester. Could you please ensure admission to a government engineering college without losing a year with nominal fee?
Mamata Banerjee: We will get you admitted to a private college. We will try to see to it that you don’t lose a year.
