Charges increased from Rs 35k to Rs 75k: MGIMS medicos file complaint over Sudden Mid-Course Fee Hike

Mumbai: The medical students enrolled at Wardha-based Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (MGIMS) are upset over the sudden mid-course hike in the college fees and hostel charges. While for the academic year 2022-2023, the students had to pay Rs 35,000 as additional charges, they are now required to pay Rs 75,800 for the academic year 2023-2024. A complaint in this regard has been filed with the state medical education department.

Students complained that in the middle of their four-and-a-half-year course, the college levied additional charges and also increased the hostel fees without providing any additional facilities. Further, the students alleged that the medical college is insisting on compulsory enrolment in the hostel, even for the interns, in contradiction of the directives issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC). As per the rules prescribed by the Apex Medical Commission, even though all institutes have to offer accommodation, it cannot be made mandatory for the students.

Alleging that the college administration has 'unlawfully increased their college fee', a complaint was submitted earlier this month to the Medical Education Department of the State Government, reports TOI.

MGIMS is managed by the Central Government, the State, and the Kasturba Health Society and these authorities share its expenditure in the proportion of 50%, 25%, and 25%, respectively. Since the college charges a nominal fee, it is one of the sought-after institutes for the medical aspirants. The students are required to pay a tuition fee of Rs 1 lakh, almost the same as the government medical colleges.

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As per the latest media report by the Times of India, some of the students are now complaining that the college has levied additional charges in the middle of their MBBS course and also hiked their hostel fees without offering any extra facilities. The hostel fee was increased in July last year from Rs 12,500 to Rs 30,000 per semester. Now, the fee has been hiked by 65% for the interns. While previously, the interns had to pay Rs 3000 per month, they are now required to pay Rs 5000 from April. 

The Complaint, submitted to the State Medical Education Department, mentioned that the college started charging Rs 4,500 for Wi-Fi and Rs 4,800 for transportation per semester.

In this regard, a student alleged that the additional charges have been levied now even though the college had been offering Wi-Fi facilities since day one. The student further mentioned that library charges, electricity charges, and even mess charges have been almost doubled. As a result, the total additional charges, which were Rs 35,000 per semester in 2022-2023, has now become Rs 75,800 in 2023-2024.

"Recently, the stipends for medical interns were hiked in all colleges from Rs 11,000 to Rs 18,000, but the college has simultaneously increased additional fees, so effectively students are still getting the old stipend amount," the student mentioned.

Addressing the issue, Counsellor Jasmine Gogri pointed out that as per the government rules, fees charged in the first-year should remain unchanged for the entire course. "Most colleges, however, are charging additional fees under different heads, but this is a government college," Gogri added.

Meanwhile, commenting on the matter, the secretary of State Medical Education Department Dinesh Waghmare informed that they would look into the complaint.

Also Read: Fee for MBBS hike by Rs 1 lakh in Maharashtra private medical colleges this year