Hyderabad: Medical Students Disturbed by Changes in Local Criteria
Students feel left behind as a result of the recent change in Telangana's local requirements for MBBS admissions (rules changed in accordance with GO 33 mandating students to study from class IX to XII).
Telangana students who attended schools in nearby areas of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra are no longer permitted to pursue MBBS or BDS programs in the state.
M Kunal, an MDS candidate who completed his BDS in AP's Kadapa, is one among them. Despite being a resident of Telangana and having a NEET rank of 2963, he is no longer qualified based on the new standards. “I got admission to BDS in 2017 in Govt Dental College, Kadapa, and pursued my graduation in Kadapa as I was not aware of the rules at that time. Now, I would like to do MDS in Telangana. Since I completed my graduation in Andhra Pradesh, as per the counseling rules of NEET MDS 2024, I am not eligible for counseling. I am a permanent resident of Telangana and yet will lose the seat in Telangana. This is unfair,” he said. Kunal has sent a letter to the Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences.
A Revanth Reddy, the Chief Minister, has received letters from some parents requesting a reconsideration of the law. “Our children have secured good marks after a lot of hard work and they are not eligible just because of the changed criteria. Many students have pursued graduation in AP so that they can prepare for NEET but now their future is at stake. This is despite the fact that we are working here and our forefathers have been residents here. This criteria should be changed,” read the letter.
Recently, Telangana implemented GO No. 33, which changed the requirements for students to be considered as local pupils. Students who finished four of the seven years of schooling in the state, from class VI to XII, were formerly regarded as Telangana students.
However, in order for students to be recognized as local students, they must attend classes IX through XII entirely in Telangana, per the new legislation.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Priyanka Pandey/MSM)
