Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi (SP)

Belagavi, Dec 19: The state government is mulling the option of introducing non-resident Indian (NRI) quota seats in government-run medical colleges. This, it is said, is an effort to pool funds for improving facilities and infrastructure at these colleges.

This idea was mooted by state minister for medical education, D K Shivakumar, on Tuesday December 18. He felt that this move will help to operate the government medical college with added efficiency. He also stressed that the move will also benefit employees working for the colleges. He wholeheartedly supported creation of NRI quota, which would be a major policy decision if adopted.

Shivakumar was replying to a question raised by BJP MLC, S V Sankanur, in the council on Tuesday. The minister also said that his department has a proposal to increase the tuition fee for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the medical colleges run by the government. The proposed fee structure is Rs 50,000 for MBBS courses as against the current Rs 17,000, and hike for postgraduate courses would be Rs 3,00,000 from the current Rs 50,000. He said that the government has
taken into account cost factor in proposing this hike, duly pointing out that the government is spending about ten lac rupees per student who pay tuition fee of just Rs 17,000.

Shivakumar also said that his department has sought additional grants for implementing National Pension Scheme for college employees recruited after 2006.