*UPA minister-run med college wants Rs 20L donation*
*Pushpa Narayan | TNN *
*
Chennai: Less than a week after the Tamil Nadu government claimed to have
put in place a system to curb the collection of capitation fees by private
medical colleges, a TOI investigation has caught officials of two leading
medical colleges on camera demanding Rs 20-40 lakh for an MBBS seat.
The investigation exposes how Chennai-based colleges violate a Supreme
Court order and state legislation banning capitation fees. Officials of Sri
Ramachandra University (SRU) and Shree Balaji Medical College and Hospital
were caught on camera demanding donations from a student who cleared his
Class XII exams this year.
While Shree Balaji College asked for Rs 20 lakh, SRU demanded Rs 40 lakh
for an MBBS seat. The colleges have 150 seats each. DMK MP and Union
minister of state for information and broadcasting S Jagathrakshakan is the
chairman of Shree Balaji Medical College and Hospital while SRU is run by a
trust led by industrialist V R Venkataachalam.
When informed about TOI’s investigation, the state authorities promised
to conduct an inquiry.
The Balaji college administrative officer, Johnson, is on camera
directing the student to meet “an agent’’ at the Shree Lakshmi Ammal
Educational Trust at 29, Tilak Street, T Nagar, where “negotiations’’ for
the capitation fee of Rs 20 lakh could be conducted.
When asked if the rates could be reduced, Johnson replied, “Minister
(Jagathrakshakan) tells us to charge not less than 20 lakh. Recommendations
are all humbug. Nothing will happen. You meet Lakshmi.’’ He was referring to
the agent.
The college, he said, would relax the mode of payment by allowing
parents to pay the capitation fee in three instalments before January 2010,
but the amount, he insisted, would have to be paid “only in cash’’ at T
Nagar in the heart of the city.
At T Nagar, the trust has a waiting room and a cabin in the basement of
a two-storey building. Lakshmi, who is in charge of the trust, says she
could give no guarantee that a seat would be available for Rs 14 lakh (the
amount we quoted). “You book your seat with an advance of Rs 2 lakh. We will
see if we can offer you the rate that you ask for. But if you don’t book,
the price will go up,’’ she said.
Some other medical colleges charge more than double this amount. TOI has
on camera Sri Ramachandra University’s deputy registrar (admissions) Dr A
Subramaniyan telling the student that the capitation fee is Rs 40 lakh. He
quickly clarified that this does not include the fee of Rs 3.25 lakh per
annum. “There are chances that the fees will get increased, and then you may
have to shell out more money every year. If you are ready with Rs 40 lakh we
can start admission,’’ he said. NRI paid Rs 75L for seat
For BDS, the donation quoted was Rs 3.5 lakh. Asked for a receipt, he
said, “We cannot give any receipts. Receipts can be given only for the fees.
The payment has to be made in cash. Along with the Rs 3.5 lakh fees you can
pay the donation,’’ he said. An MBBS student from SRU, who was interviewed
on the campus, is also on camera saying that the entrance exam conducted by
the college is an eyewash. “No merit system here. For myself, an NRI, I paid
Rs 75 lakh. For others, it was Rs 45 lakh. But I heard that the rates have
come down to Rs 40 lakh now.’’
When asked why the university has been collecting capitation fees, its
vice chancellor Dr S Rangaswami said, “I can’t talk to you now. We are busy
with the inspection by the Medical Council of India.’’ Health authorities
reacted to the news of the colleges violating court rulings and a state law,
saying they would recommend action if evidence was found. “Nobody has
complained to us so far. If there is evidence, we will investigate and
forward the requisition for action against the colleges to the government,’’
said director of medical education S Vinayagam.
TRANSCRIPTS
1. At Sri Ramachandra University, the pointsman for capitation fees is the
deputy registrar. SRU deputy registrar (admission) A Subramaniyan: “Do you
have any plans to give donations? Student: How much is it? Dy Registrar: Rs
40 lakhs. In addition you have to pay fees of Rs 3.25 lakh per annum... If
you are ready with Rs 40 lakhs we can start admission. Student: What about
BDS? Dy Registrar: For dental course the donation is Rs 3.5 lakh for these
marks and fees will be Rs 3,25 lakh per annum. Student: Can we get a receipt
as my father wants to keep accounts? Dy Registrar: We cannot give any
receipts. Receipts can be given only for the fees. The payment has to be
made in cash. Along with the Rs 3.5 lakh fees you can pay the donation. 2.
At Shree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, students are directed to meet
administrative officer Johnson Johnson: There is an admission office in T
Nagar, in North Usman Road. Please go see our agent. Her name is Lakshmi.
You can discuss with her. Student: What is the minimum amount? Johnson:: We
charge 20....Minimum 16 lakh but you talk to her. It is up to you how to
bargain. Student: How much can we ask for? Please give us an idea. Johnson: She
will not go below 15 lakhs. Student: Can’t you ask the minister to reduce
the charge? Johnson: The minister only told not to charge less than 20
lakhs. Student: How do we pay? Johnson: Cash only. *** * * * * * *
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