EWS quota: Only 10 private medical colleges from Telangana State in the fray

Hyderabad: Only ten private medical colleges in the State have responded to Medical Council of India's (MCI) letter to send proposals for additional seats so as to implement the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota in MBBS admissions in private institutions from the present academic year ( 2019-20).

Barring six minority and three new private colleges, 15 private medical colleges had the opportunity to get additional seats. However, five private institutions have decided to opt out, at least for this year.

It may be mentioned here that the MCI has dashed off a letter asking all States to send proposals from private medical colleges about additional seats to implement EWS quota by June 29.

The reasons being pointed out are some private colleges were not prepared with the last-minute decision of the MCI as it left little time for them to make necessary arrangements.

Increased seats mean colleges have to rope in extra faculty and ensure additional facilities to accommodate the extra students. And these will become key factors when MCI comes for inspections.

"Although it is being said that three-years would be given after which the MCI would come for inspections, this looks a risky proposition. Some of the private medical colleges have their five-year mandatory inspection scheduled next year.

They are apprehensive that faculty shortfall or something might go against them as officials generally look for faculty requirement on the total number of seats rather than leaving out the newly added seats," said a joint owner of a private medical college, who did not wish to be named.

Also, the additional seats to be granted are only the convener quota seats, whose tuition fee is in the range of Rs 60,000 per year. Compare this with fees collected for management quota seats (between Rs 11 lakh and Rs 24 lakh per year).

"For taking such a risk, colleges do not get any financial relief as far as the fee is concerned as all increased seats are convener seats only. Hence, some colleges opted out," the college owner added.

Each private college in the State has a total strength of MBBS seats in the range of 100-200, with most colleges having 150 seats.

However, EWS quota is applicable only on convener quota seats, which is 50 per cent in private colleges.

The MCI has allocated 25 per cent on a total number of convener seats as additional seats to each government college and private colleges are likely to be extended the same facility.

In college having 150 total seats, 75 seats are convener seats. So, 25 percent of this comes to nearly 18 seats.

Since 10 private colleges have applied for additional seats, the additional seats in private colleges (to be allotted by MCI ) are likely to be in the range of 150 to 180 seats.