Muslim medical colleges fall in line, finally

2006
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, July 30: State government's strict vigil coupled with competition has forced the two Muslim minority medical colleges in the State to fall in line and admit students purely on merit basis.
This is the first time in many years that admissions into minority medical colleges are near transparent if not completely fair. Both the Deccan Medical College and the Shadan Medical College have followed the State government's new rules on admissions and fee structure as far as 70 per cent EAMCET merit seats are concerned.
However, they are yet to release the list of candidates admitted under the 30 per cent management quota. The State government has now made it compulsory for managements of minority medical colleges to adopt complete transparency even in admissions made under the management quota. They will have to follow merit and a fixed fee structure of Rs 4.50 lakh per year for 30 per cent management quota seats.
While Shadan Medical College has called for counselling EAMCET rank-holders from 1 to 3442, the Deccan Medical College invited even students who have scored up to 5,000 rank. This led to competition between the two colleges and the meritorious students, who otherwise used to run from pillar to post, stood benefited.
Deccan Medical College collected the prescribed Rs 30,000 per year from students seeking admission under the 70 per cent EAMCET seats. This has forced the Shadan Medical College, which collected Rs 1.60 lakh from students, to make an announcement that it would return the excess amount. The Shadan College has also announced second list.
Both the Muslim minority medical colleges together have 250 seats of them 175 seats fall under Rs 30,000 fee category and 75 seats under Rs 4.50 lakh category.
"I got admission in a non-minority college under payment seat (Rs 1.60 lakh). Because of the new orders (GO 297) and strict vigil by government, I got admission in Shadan Medical College under Rs 30,000 fee category. If the government did not ensure merit-based admissions in minority colleges I would not have afford education in non-minority college by paying Rs 1.60 lakh," says Lubna Muneer, who scored 1332 rank in the Eamcet (minority rank 46).
While Deccan Medical College has given seat up to the EAMCET rank 5045 (minority rank 243), the Shadan has now called candidates up to 5365 rank (minority rank 262).
"This is the culmination of a 11 year old struggle launched by minority education rights activist late Muhammad Fasiuddin. Now only one thing remains to be done. There should be single window admission in medical colleges too. Even at the government prescribed fee, minority colleges get Rs 1.56 crore per year from 100 students as against Rs 1.55 crore in case of non-minority medical colleges. When non-minority colleges could manage with the fee, there should be no problem with the minority colleges," Muhammad Ansari of APMERPC said.