Haryana MBBS students call off strike, celebrate Victory, Court hearing on February 7

Rohtak: The protesting MBBS students in Haryana have finally called off their strike after the Haryana Government published the modified bond conditions and the authorities agreed to their other demands regarding the withdrawal of FIR, and attendance issues.

Priya Kaushik, one of the leading students involved in the protest activities has informed Medical Dialogues that the Vice-chancellor of Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) Rohtak has now agreed to all the other demands and broke the hunger strike of the students by offering them juice.

Students are calling this their first "victory" since the Haryana Government modified the bond terms in line of the assurances given by the Chief Minister of Haryana earlier.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that responding to the protest of the MBBS students against the bond service rules, the CM had announced recently that the bond policy would be modified. The Chief Minister announced the decision of reducing the bond service period from 7 years to 5 years and bond anount from 40 lakhs to 30 lakhs.

The CM had also assured that "Not everyone has to pay this (bond) amount. Only those who'll complete MBBS in next 5 years & will earn more than govt salary will pay this amount. We've also given job guarantee. Those who will not get any Pvt or govt job will be given contractual employment for 1 yr."

Also Read: Bond service term reduced to 5 years, penalty to Rs 25.77 lakh: Haryana releases Amended Bond Policy for MBBS Students

Assurance from the CM had come following the month-long protest by the MBBS medicos who were strictly against the earlier notification issued by the Government on November 7, 2022, which mandated Rs 36.40 lakh bond in government medical colleges and compulsory service for 7 years.

Now, the State has published the changed bond terms, as per which, the bond amount has been fixed at Rs 25,77,090 for the male candidates at the Government medical colleges, while the amount is Rs 23,19,381 for the female conditions (10% concession).

In case of the Government Aided Medical College (MAMC, Agroha), the amount of bond for the male and female candidates is Rs 21,90,000 and 19,71,000 respectively.

Further, the Government has also reduced the tenure of bond service from 7 years to 5 years including the tenure of Postgraduation. As per the amended rules, the candidates will only have to repay the service incentive bond only when they choose not to join any Government service, either permanent or contractual when offered to them. During the period of study including the period of post-graduation, the students will not have to re-pay any amount.

While the students have called off their strike, the Chairman of IMA Junior doctors network Haryana Dr Karan Juneja has termed it only as a "first victory" for the students and assured that the protest against the bond policy will continue since the matter will be raised in the Parliament.

He also referred to several points of confusion regarding the amended bond policy terms including the utilization of the huge amount that the Government is going to get as a fees from the students. He also questioned if the Government's financial capability to pay the doctors salary along with paying their monthly EMI of Rs 53,000 per month.

"How has the figure of 30 lacs been calculated as Government cost of imparting education for MBBS in Government Medical Colleges in state of Haryana. What is to stop the next Government from claiming that this cost is actually 30 crore and not 30 lacs," he further questioned as he pointed out that the Government has clarified that the money is being taken as an increased fees for medical education.

It should be mentioned in this context that already a case in this regard is pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Referring to that, Dr. Juneja informed that the next hearing is on February 7, 2022. "For now, the Court has directed the Government to proactively resolve the issue," he added.

Also Read: MBBS Bond Policy Row: IMA plans to move to Punjab and Haryana HC seeking relief