The death of Naveen Shekharappa, an Indian student killed by the shelling in Ukraine while he was standing in queue for food, came as a shocker to us Indians. And like him, there are a lot of medical students in Ukraine who are currently pleading for help from the government.
But why is it that despite having several medical institutes in India, Indian students move abroad to study medicine?
When Shekharappa’s father, Gyanagoudar was asked this question, he said that despite being a top scorer, his son could not get a medical seat in India ‘due to the system’.
“Despite scoring 97% in PUC, my son could not secure a medical seat in the state. To get a medical seat, one has to give crores of rupees and students are getting the same education abroad spending less money,” the grieving dad said.
Despite scoring 97% in PUC, my son could not secure a medical seat in State. To get a medical seat one has to give crores of rupees&students are getting same education abroad spending less money, says father of Naveen Shekharappa, an Indian student who died in shelling in Ukraine pic.twitter.com/wXqArRW9eq
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2022
According to him, they spend a lot less than what they would have if the child studied in India. “I found out that I would have to spend anywhere between Rs 85 lakh and Rs 1 crore to put him in a private medical college. That’s when I decided to send him to Ukraine, but that proved far more costly,” the retired paper mill employee said.
“Due to the education system and casteism, he could not get a seat despite being an intelligent student. I am dejected with our political system, education system, and casteism.”
“Everything is in the control of private institutes,” he added.
Naveen’s father was also seen saying, “For MBBS In India, Donations are very bad and intelligent students are going abroad as they have to spend Crores and Crores here also seats here are allotted only based on Caste-Based Reservations and not on Merit.”
"For MBBS In India, Donations are very bad and intelligent students are going abroad as they have to spend Crores and Crores here – also seats here are allotted only based on Caste-Based Reservations and not on Merit" – Naveen's Father.
Om Shanthi Naveen!! pic.twitter.com/bNxOcu3Zkv
— இந்தா வாயின்கோ – Take That (@indhavaainko) March 1, 2022
According to a Times Of India report, China, Russia, and Ukraine in that order account for about 60% of the outflow.
Moreover, there is intense competition for limited seats in India. And out of these, a little over half is in government colleges which is very hard to crack.
“The screening test is tough and I don’t think many MBBS students, especially those from private medical colleges in India, with poor training and teaching will clear the exam,” said a faculty of a government medical college in India.
Adding to this, a senior doctor told TOI that Indian students are lured by poor-quality medical colleges abroad. “Indian students often don’t do enough research or are lured by unethical consultants and end up in such places. These students repeatedly fail to clear the screening tests and finally changes streams,” he added.
This is what people had to say about it:
The sad truth of medical education in India. The most nobel profession that saves lives but the system makes their life most difficult. RIP Naveen 🙏🥲 https://t.co/YuMAh3Zr1h
— Sheetal Bapat (@sheetal_bapat) March 2, 2022
This is so so disturbing.
If a kid with 97% cannot get a seat, what will average general merit do…they are turning our life into hell 😢😢 https://t.co/KHpq1oRMUq
— 𝕲𝖆𝖓𝖊𝖘𝖍 | ಗಣೇಶ್ 🇮🇳🚩 (@gganeshhh) March 1, 2022
The sordid state of Indian higher education right here 👇 https://t.co/vS14buLIqe
— Midnight Thoughts 🌹 (@lazarus4917) March 1, 2022
Slap on the faces of insensitive people who say, why do our students need to go abroad to study! https://t.co/jm4cEpqxW0
— Sayema (@_sayema) March 1, 2022
This is the sad truth of reservation in India.
After scoring 97% in puc he's not secured a medical seat.
Not war reservation killed him😥😥 https://t.co/pAxQhCDS0u— Anil_parsha 🇮🇳 (@AnilParsha) March 1, 2022
Reservation should be on financial basis not on caste basis..#Reservation #Indiaagainstcastreservation https://t.co/5Y0mIc6BbO
— Tejashwi (@SatSunRider) March 2, 2022
What do you think of the state of higher education in India?