ASPIRANTS AND THEIR PARENTS WAIT FOR COUNSELLING AT SCB MEDICAL COLLEGE IN CUTTACK. PICTURE BY BADRIKA NATH DAS

Cuttack, June 26: Document verification process for students seeking admissions into MBBS and dental courses started at the three government-run medical colleges in the state today.

Chaos and confusion marked the first day. Students and their guardians blamed the authorities for mismanagement at the SCB Medical College and Hospital, where the documents are being verified. “There was confusion as students did not have any information as to where to go for the verification initially in the morning,” said B.K. Behera, a parent from Bhubaneswar

Behera said that no information or help desk counter was set up near biochemistry department.

“It was a very lengthy process as first we had to complete the registration process by producing a copy of our online registration and rank card. Then after filing up a form, we had to wait for over two hours to complete document verification,” said Aditya Rout, a student from Athgarh. “The capacity of the conference hall where the verification was being done was not large enough to accommodate the students. We had to stand and wait till our names were announced for the verification,” said Priyanka Das, another student.

An aspirant presents his documents during counselling at MKCG Medical campus in Berhampur. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Authorities of director medical education and training (DMET) are conducting the medical counselling for nearly 650 MBBS and 150 BDS seats in the state in three government and three private medical colleges. The Medical Council of India (MCI) has reduced 100 seats of the SCB Medical College and Hospital owing to inadequate infrastructure. Students are free to complete the verification process at the two other venues—MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur and VSS medical college, Burla, students from twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar and nearby districts had opted for the SCB Medical College and Hospital. “I will opt for a private college if I fail to get admission at the government-run colleges,” said Siddhart Shankar Das, a student from Bhubaneswar.

The students can complete the document verification process at the three venues till June 28, while the dates of online choice locking is likely to be announced shortly.