Illegal fees undermine Tamil Nadu's 7.5% medical quota

Chennai: A state quota of 7.5% for government school students to access medical education is being weakened by colleges asking for illegal fees. Students who secure free slots are finding they still need to pay for essential items like books and medical kits, which contradicts the aim of equal opportunity. In some colleges, especially those focused on Indian medicine, students report being asked to pay extra fees. For example, a student at Krishnagiri government medical college was told she needed to pay for anatomy books and would have to buy a dissection kit, stethoscope, and lab coat on her own. She mentioned sharing these items with friends due to high costs. This year, she was charged in advance for "record books" for the next academic year and faced additional costs for food at the hostel. Although college officials claimed certain fees would be refunded once government funding arrived, students remain frustrated. Student organizations emphasize that the fee situation is not consistent across all colleges. While some institutions enforce extra costs, others ask students to cover full mess fees. If students fail to pay on time, their names are marked as "defaulters," causing stress. In 2023, a report indicated that students under the quota were similarly burdened with fees at KAP Vishwanathan medical college. The Directorate of Medical Education had previously instructed colleges not to collect various fees from these students. Yet, officials say differential treatment continues to occur. The director of medical education did not respond to inquiries, but a college dean suggested that fees are usually reimbursed when government funding is received. Students at self-financing medical colleges do not report similar issues, and older colleges like MMC and SMC have fewer complaints. There are calls for the government to take over book sales to ease the financial burden on students.