Govt fails to bring relief to medical aspirants
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Feb 20: While the J&K Government has so far failed to arrange a National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Super Specialty (NEET-SS) examination Centre in Kashmir, the National Board of Examinations (NBE) has now stated that it will consider setting up the one for future exams.
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The aggrieved senior resident doctors, mostly from tertiary care hospitals, had submitted a grievance to the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), highlighting the absence of an examination Centre in Kashmir and the difficulties candidates would face in traveling to other parts of the country.
“The reply furnished by the Additional Director, NBE on the central grievance portal stated that the suggestion has been duly noted for future exams,” a doctor said.
A similar grievance, according to the doctors, was also submitted to the LG grievance cell. However, they said there has been no response from the authorities in this regard.
The doctors, the majority of whom are from Kashmir, are set to appear for the exam being held nationwide on March 29 and 30.
The doctors told Excelsior that since most of the NEET-SS candidates from J&K are from the Kashmir Division, “it is essential to ensure that their examination experience is as smooth and comfortable as possible.”
Interestingly, for the last three years, the NBE has not designated an examination Centre for the NEET-SS exam in Kashmir-the last was in the winter of 2021.
Notably, over a thousand senior resident doctors are expected to appear for the examination, crucial for aspiring medical professionals seeking admission to various super specialty courses across the country.
The doctors said that the only examination Centre in J&K is in Jammu-with limited seats-which proves to be “inconvenient and distant” for many candidates from Srinagar and surrounding areas.
“At the Jammu exam Centre, only a limited number of seats were available, which filled up quickly. The remaining candidates have no option in J&K and will now have to travel to other parts of the country, making the process even more hectic,” said a doctor set to appear for the exam.
The doctors said the issue not only adds to their financial burden but also causes unnecessary stress and anxiety, ultimately affecting their performance in the examination.
Earlier, ‘Excelsior’ had raised the matter with Cabinet Minister Sakeena Itoo, who also holds the Health & Medical Education portfolio.
She assured that she would examine the issue and work toward a solution.
However, so far, the Government has not been able to bring any relief to the doctors-who must leave their stations to appear for the exam-only stating that they are looking into it.
“We will see what we can do regarding this matter,” the minister told reporters when asked about the issue here.
On the other side, the concerned doctors said that ‘Raabita’-the Chief Minister’s Public Services & Outreach Office-has informed them that they are working on it.
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