Srinagar, Apr 22 (KNO): Discontent is brewing among students pursuing B.Sc Allied Health Care (Paramedical) courses at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, who have raised serious concerns over what they describe as an "unjustified and disproportionate" fee structure. The students have formally appealed to the Principal Dean, urging a comprehensive review and rationalisation of the fees.
As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), they staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday, alleging that they are being charged nearly Rs 65,000 for their three-year course, significantly higher than the approximately Rs 25,000 charged from B.Sc Nursing students and around Rs 60,000 for the entire five-year MBBS programme at the same institution. Such disparity is difficult to justify, especially given the shorter duration and comparatively limited facilities available to paramedical students, they said.
Students pointed to stark contrasts with other institutions, such as Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag and Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), where the total fee for similar paramedical courses is reportedly around Rs 18,500. "Charging nearly three times the fee without providing adequate facilities raises serious questions about fairness and transparency," they said.
Apart from the financial burden, students also flagged the lack of basic infrastructure. They said that the paramedical department lacks a dedicated building, permanent faculty, proper administrative systems, hostel accommodation, and sports facilities. "Despite the absence of essential infrastructure and institutional support, we are being asked to pay an excessively high fee, which appears unreasonable," they said.
Many students, particularly those from economically weaker sections, said the current fee structure is placing immense financial strain on their families. They have requested the administration to reconsider the fee framework in line with other courses within the institution and comparable colleges across Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, AIMSA Vice President Dr Mohammad Momin Khan termed the fee disparity as "unfair" and urged authorities to intervene promptly. "Education, especially in the healthcare sector, must remain accessible and affordable. Any policy that places an excessive financial burden on students needs urgent reconsideration," he said, calling for a transparent dialogue between the administration and the aggrieved students.
AIMSA reiterated its commitment to advocating for student welfare and urged the authorities to resolve the issue amicably, ensuring that the academic future of the students is not compromised—(KNO)