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Monday, November 11, 2024

Future of over 1,300 Indian medical students in Nepal takes an unexpected turn

Finding themselves in a glitch caused due to ambiguous policies, Indian MBBS students plan to stage a protest demanding amendments to the Nepal Medical Council Regulations 2024

Ayushi.Gupta1@timesofindia.com 11.11.2024

In October 2024, over 480 Indian students participated in counselling sessions conducted by the Medical Education Commission (MEC) under the government of Nepal. However, now, most of them are in a fix due to the changing policies by the Nepal Medical Council in April 2023. This implies that Indian students who have enrolled in Nepal after 2021 or are planning to move there for an MBBS or BDS degree will not be granted a licence to practice in Nepal. Due to the change in policies, foreign students from the 2021, 2022, and 2023 MBBS batches are considering abandoning their courses and planning to protest against private colleges and the Nepal Medical Council (NMC) over the uncertainty created by licensing regulations.

Licensing exam The Global Medical Society (GMS), an association representing Indian MBBS students in Nepal, has informed Education Times that they will soon hold a protest, demanding amendments to NMC Regulations, 2024. A student from Muzaffarpur, Bihar, studying at Kathmandu University, on the condition of anonymity says, “After the NMC’s ambiguous notifications released in April 2023 and October 2024, foreign students are struggling to ensure if their medical education will remain valid in India. Since Nepal does not grant licences to foreign students, it is unclear why we are still expected to take the licensing exam. Without the licence to practice in Nepal, our careers are at risk, as we will not be able to qualify for the FMGE or NExT exams in India.”

Another student from Gorakhpur, studying at Tribhuvan University, Nepal, says, “Nepal’s medical education is also not yet recognised by the United States Medical Licen sing Examination (USMLE), which limits our opportunities worldwide. We have reached out to the Indian Embassy in Nepal for clarifications as well and are awaiting their response. If the NMC does not provide us with a practising licence for at least 10 years, we will be forced to return to India.”Around 1,338 Indian students could face career setbacks if amendments or special provisions are not made for the currently enrolled students in Nepal.

“We also do not want more Indian students to get into this entrapment, thus we have asked the authorities to delay the last date of the ongoing admission process so that these students can make an informed decision,” adds the student. Indian students have faced the potential loss of at least Rs 5 lakh each, which was illegally collected by consulting agencies as a pre-booking fee. Dr Kumar, from a private medical college in Nepal, says, “This year, around 845 students registered for counselling, and 480 students were selected based on the MEC merit list. Following awareness regarding the licensing issue, nearly 50% have withdrawn their applications. Most registrants this year were from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Guja rat. Many students paid prebooking fees to agents, ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 15 lakh, despite the NMC’s advisory that such fees are illegal.”

820 more NEET-PG 2024 seats in all-India counselling process

820 moreNEET-PG 2024 seats in all-India counselling process

India witnessed an increase of 820 postgraduate medical seats in the central counselling process this year. The rise is primarily seen in deemed universities and DNB seats. However, concerns arose as some government colleges were absent from the all-India quota seat matrix, causing uncertainty among students despite the overall increase.

Yogita Rao TNN Nov 11, 2024,

MUMBAI: The total number of postgraduate medical seats increased by 820 so far this year in the central counselling process, which includes the all-India quota seats, deemed and central universities, DNB (Diplomate of National Board), and diploma ones. The seat matrix of the NEET-PG counselling process was released by the central Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) after a dayʼs delay on Saturday. While students claimed that some of the govt colleges were missing from the all-India quota seat matrix, these are likely to be added soon.

The maximum increase in PG medical seats is seen in deemed universities, followed by DNB seats in the country. In DNB alone, where the total seats increased by 494, 103 were added in general medicine, a popular branch among students, followed by orthopaedics with 65 seats and general surgery with 48. While the maximum seats in DNB are available in general medicine (922), it is followed by anaesthesia with 620 seats and general surgery with 500. On the contrary, for the two-year diploma course, more seats are added to the paediatrics branch, followed by anaesthesia and ophthalmology.

PG medical admissions commenced over two months after the NEET-PG results were out. While the results were out on August 23 and the registrations started soon after, the choice filling process started only now.

Sudha Shenoy, a parent representative, said that there is always an increase in the intake capacity, but students are unsure about the entire picture as 335 seats are missing from the all India quota compared to last year. “Even if thereʼs an increase this year, it should have been clear by now as there was already a long delay. For Mumbai students, a civic college in Nerul, which recently got the permission to offer PG courses, was missing from the seat matrix released by the MCC,” she said.

MCC finally declares seat matrix for medical PG

Sudha Shenoy, a parent representative, said, "As expected, the seat matrix was delayed for medical PG admissions. More so, there are more seats in deemed Uuniversities overall than in government colleges."

Written by Pallavi Smart 10.11.2024

There are 25,791 seats available for grabs for round 1 of the 2024 medical PG admissions. This is 820 more than last year's 24,971 seats. (File image)

After a prolonged delay, the seat matrix for medical post-graduation (PG) admissions has finally been declared by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). There are 25,791 seats available for grabs for round 1 of the 2024 medical PG admissions. This is 820 more than last year’s 24,971 seats.

According to the admission schedule declared by MCC on November 1, the seat matrix was scheduled to be out on November 7, following which students were to get 10 days to file their choices of colleges in order of preference. However, it was not declared Saturday evening, which had led to candidates growing concerned as they had been waiting for PG admissions to start.

Sudha Shenoy, a parent representative, said, “As expected, the seat matrix was delayed for medical PG admissions. More so, there are more seats in deemed Uuniversities overall than in government colleges.”

As the medical PG admissions were already delayed, thousands of aspirants had heaved a sigh of relief when MCC declared the admissions schedule last week on November 1. However, there was a delay as the seat matrix which was expected to be out on November 7 was not declared by November 9.

“And since there was no communication from the MCC, students were staring at uncertainty, until the seat matrix was finally out on Saturday evening,” said a candidate.

There has been a reduction of 335 seats in the All India Quota (AIQ) Government Medical Colleges (GMC), which according to parents significantly impacts students who rely on these affordable seats determined by state government regulations.

Another parent representative, Brijesh Sutaria also pointed out how the largest increase in seats is in a category which is largely inaccessible to a majority of students. The largest increase is seen in deemed medical colleges, with 537 additional seats. “However, the fees for these seats are often prohibitively high, making them inaccessible to many students,” Sutaria said, adding that the actual seat increase appears to fall short of what was promised. “The government had promised an increase of around 4,087 seats in PG medical courses for 2024-2025,” said Sutaria.

Madras celebrates as its very own star has turned 70

Cult classic: Kamal did Aboorva Sagotharargal (Appu Raja

in Hindi), playing the dwarf character with elan.

K.C. Vijaya Kumar

Madras Memories

The cherubic boy in Kalathur Kannamma has turned 70, and yes, time does fly. Kamal Haasan, a five-year-old back then in 1960, has been defying the conventional norms of celluloid, adding a dash of magic, pushing the bars of excellence, and has left his imprint across categories. Acting, directing, choreography (he was an assistant dance master in Malayalam films), production duties, singing, lyric and screenplay writing, are all part of his vast repertoire.

And just as he clocked 70 last Thursday (November 7), wishes poured in and the release-announcement teaser of his Thug Life, helmed by Mani Ratnam, dropped in the digital space. The two, joining hands after the masterly Nayagan (1987), have understandably set expectations on fire. In the duopoly of Tamil movies, the Rajini-Kamal combine has set a high benchmark, for the movies they headline, the profits that accrue, and the dignity that they lend to their enduring friendship.

An interchangeable label

The laziest thing would be to label one as the star and the other as the actor, but both have proved that it is interchangeable. Rajini’s acting chops were evident in the poignant Mullum Malarum (1978), while Kamal’s box-office charisma was obvious in Sagalakala Vallavan (1982). In the Madras of the 1980s and 90s, the two held sway, and they continue to do so even now. It is a tribute to their longevity and the ability to stay relevant within a changing fan-demographic and evolving viewership tastes.

Kamal often did the commercial-Indie split or the action-comedy segregation while offering his bouquet of films over the years. Back in the 1990s, a few movie-halls were associated with specific actors. Albert at Egmore was deemed a Rajini bastion, but Kamal’s laugh-riot Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990) ran to packed houses at that theatre. A year earlier, he did Aboorva Sagotharargal (Appu Raja in Hindi), playing the dwarf character with elan. The box-office went into overdrive and an impressed DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi penned a note: Kalaiye un marupeyar thaan Kamalo?(Art, is thy alternate name Kamal?)

Incremental value

It is a tribute to Kamal that even his films that didn’t exactly keep the cash-registers ringing have acquired an incremental value. Guna’s Kanmani anbodu song proved to be the emotional spine that held the recent Malayalam hit Manjummel Boys together. While Meiyazhagan currently draws in appreciation, people immediately recall the Kamal-Madhavan bromance and innate philosophy in Anbe Sivam (2003). Be it the sad Moondram Pirai (1982) climax or the all-guns-blazing denouement in Vikram (2022), Kamal has held his space while the years race by and he does the balancing act between the arts and politics.

Delhi Ganesh, who acted in around 400 films, dies

Delhi Ganesh

The Hindu Bureau

Chennai 11.11.2024

Tamil actor Delhi Ganesh, who excelled in supporting roles, died in Chennai on Saturday night. He was 80, and is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.

He is known for having effortlessly played the role of a mridhangam player, Gurumoorthy, in Sindhu Bhairavi; Iyer in Nayagan; a cook, Palghat Mani Iyer, in Michael Madana Kamarajan; Sethurama Iyer in Avvai Shanmugi; a psychiatrist, Panchabootham, in Thenali; and a villain, Francis Anbarasu, in Apoorva Sagodhararkal. He had acted in around 400 films.

His involvement in theatre during his days in Delhi had given him a strong foundation in acting. Three years after foraying into the film world, he won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for his role as a rickshaw puller, Muniyandi, in Pasi in 1979.

In Middle Class Madhavan, he played the role of Prabhu’s father. His acting upon seeing Vadivelu break a coconut in the film tells a lot about his calibre.

“Ganesh worked in the Indian Air Force, and later as a stenographer in the Food Corporation of India in Chennai, before pursuing acting full-time. He was active in the Delhi-based theatre troupe, Dakshina Bharata Nataka Sabha,” said K. Venkatachalam, a Tamil film historian.

While working in Chennai, he joined director Kathadi Ramamurthy’s troupe. His role as Kuselar in the play Dowry Kalyana Vaibhogame drew the attention of director K. Balachander, who offered him a role in Pattina Pravesam. Balachander changed his name to Delhi Ganesh (from his original name Ganesan). He played the lead role in Engamma Sabatham. Ganesh used to say that his roles in Kamal Haasan-starrers earned him popularity.

Mr. Haasan had encouraged him to do a comedy role in Avvai Shanmugi.

Condolences pour in

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply saddened by the passing of Ganesh, and called him an illustrious film personality.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said the death was a huge loss to cinema. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin too expressed his condolences.

Minister Ma. Subramanian said the actor made a mark not only in films but also in television serials. VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan said Ganesh earned the love and respect of the people.

Former AIADMK Ministers D. Jayakumar and P. Benjamin paid floral tributes to the mortal remains.

Actor Rajinikanth said, “My friend Delhi Ganesh was a wonderful human being and an excellent actor. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.” Mr. Haasan said Ganesh was a rare character artiste who handled comedy with a lot of nuance.

Actor and TVK chief Vijay said, “His [Ganesh’s] death is a huge loss to the Tamil film industry...”

Actor Y. Gee. Mahendra said, “He [Ganesh] had performed several serious and character roles, but he was a very jovial person...”

Mr. Ramamurthy recalled how he introduced Delhi Ganesh to Tamil theatre through the play Dowry Kalyana Vaibhogame . “He continued acting in many of our plays,” he said.

Actor Sivakumar recalled Ganesh’s “excellent” role of a mridangam artiste in Sindhu Bhairavi. Filmmaker Chitra Lakshmanan said Delhi Ganesh was warm and affectionate to everyone.