March 21, 2022
Sudip Bandyopadhyay’s Zero Hour mention on accommodating Ukraine-returned medical students in Hungary and India
Sir, my issue today is with regard to medical students from India who have been forced to leave Ukraine. I met the hon. Prime Minister at his office and submitted a memorandum in this regard. I would seek your permission to read a letter addressed to the hon. Prime Minister written by our hon. Chief Minister. It says: “Respected Prime Minister, you are aware that due to certain war between Russia and Ukraine, a large number of students are forced to leave Ukraine due to imminent danger and threat to their lives. A majority of the students were pursuing MBBS course at different years in Ukraine. Till date 391 students, only from West Bengal and thousands from India have returned.”
Sir, this is a very crucial issue. “GovernmentिofिanyिState,िincludingिWestिBengal,िisिhighly sensitive to
their problems and all State Governments have ensured that all students belonging to their States return safely to their homes. As medical education in the country is regulated by the National Medical Commission, the following suggestions are being placed for your kind urgentिconsideration.” I have placed these before the hon. Prime Minister today. “AsिperिtheिcurrentिguidelinesिofिNMC,िtheिstudentsिwhoिareिeligibleिforि
internship will be allowed to undergo the internship in Government medical colleges of the State and they will also be paid stipend at par with other candidates. For other students in different years of their studies may be allowed to get admitted at the equivalent level in private medical colleges against the existing seats and the medical colleges
may be allowed to increase equivalent number of seats for accommodating these students. The private medical colleges of the State Governments should agree to accommodate these students as West Bengal has done it as State Quota. Government of West Bengal has also decided to extend financial assistance to those students to meet the expenses on their course fees. This is an unprecedented war situation which calls for an extraordinary solution. Hence, I request you for your kind urgent intervention. I also request you that students who have returned to other States are facing similar problems and steps taken by the National Medical Council be implemented for other States
as well. — MamataिBanerjee.” Sir, the hon. Prime Minister told me that this letter carries major importance and he told me that he had a discussion with the Hungarian Government in this regard and if possible, all the students will be accommodated in Hungary. All the State Governments should remain equally concerned, and if Hungary fails to accommodate all students, then the State Governments should come up and see that all students get admitted in their respective State Medical Colleges or in other State Medical Colleges at an early date. Thank you.
