** Compulsory service : MBBS students **

Anbumani Ramdoss, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare has decided to impose one year Compulsory Rural Service (CRS) for all Medical students. Thus, the academic course for all MBBS students would get extended by one more year. Students would be paid Rs.15,000 as stipend (+ 5000 extra for most difficult rural areas).

Students are making a huge hue and cry over this compulsory service rule. When so many Indian villages are without doctors, why not such a move? Howevr, my question is, why single out MBBS students alone? Because they are the priced catch ... right? Also, I am not sure how this rule will be implemented to Pvt Medical colleges where students pay in lakhs to complete their course, against the Govt funded colleges where the fees are just 20 to 30% of the Pvt College fees. Is there any justification to compel someone to do social service and that too when he/she has become a doctor on his/her own money and effort?

For the people of so many villages, where they suffer utter lack of medical facilities, this is a welcome move. This also raises the question as to what the Govt and its ministers were doing for the past 60 years without even providing basic medical facilities to its citizens? Again, this raises the issue as why do you wish to compel others to offer their services to set right your own short-comings?

But, all said and done, we cant keep on arguing on who is right and who is wrong when people in our villages suffer utter neglect on medical front. Something needs to be done to save lives of village people. If this one year compulsory service is going to help them and offer some relief, I support this move. Moreover, Indian people's attitude is getting more self centered.

To know more about the issue, go to, http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/09/stories/2007080950660100.htm


-Gowri