Ranchi, Aug. 21: A group of 35 MBBS candidates, among the total 83 who may have lost their chance to study in the three medical colleges in Jharkhand, launched a hunger strike in front of Raj Bhavan on Friday, demanding that the 100 slashed seats be restored.
Both despairing and angry, the boys and girls questioned the health department's prudence in hosting the first counselling for the 2015-16 session on June 21 when it knew that the state won't be able to retain all its 350 seats.
"I remember newspapers were already carrying reports on the seat slash before June 21, but the government held the session for all 350 seats of which 287 were for state students and the rest under central quota. How can it redistribute seats once again? It is injustice to those who bagged berths in the last counselling," said Nazir from Bokaro who appeared for the test under Jharkhand Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (JCECEB) on May 14 and ranked 290.
After the Union health ministry, on Medical Council of India's recommendation, reduced the seats from 100 each to 50 each at MGM Medical College in Jamshedpur and PMCH in Dhanbad, leaving the 150 at RIMS, Ranchi, intact, effective berth opportunity has reduced from 287 to 204 for state students. The remaining 46 seats are under central quota.
Nazir, who had earlier hoped to bag a berth in state quota despite ranking 290 because central seats often remain vacant, said he had filed a PIL in Jharkhand High Court as had three other candidates. "We did not want to protest or take legal recourse, but the MCI, the Centre and the state have left us with little choice," he added.
The hunger strike is a reminder of a similar protest near Raj Bhavan last year after the Union health ministry had slashed 160 of Jharkhand's 350 seats, including 60 at RIMS.
Friday's protesters said their hunger strike would continue till a decision was taken in their favour. "Last year, our seniors fought for their rights. Now, we are here. Hope the government and the judiciary understand our problem and do justice," said Binit of Dhanbad who has ranked 218.
Ram Kumar Sinha, deputy secretary of health, refused to comment on the agitation, but said they had not expected a seat slash.
