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Scholarships For Medical Aspirants in Rural Areas

By Mrs Gupta, Section Education
Posted on Wed Apr 25, 2007 at 03:32:47 AM EST

Meritorious students in the villages and suburbs of the state, who have the grades but not the means of studying medicine, can now realise their dreams.

The Asia Heart Foundation (AHF) and the state school education department have come together to launch a unique scholarship scheme that will assist students keen on becoming doctors.

They will be given financial support from high school till they pass out of a medical college. Those who fail to find a berth in a medical school or opt out of medicine will receive the aid till class XII.

Announcing the scholarship on Tuesday, state school education minister Partha De said West Bengal had enough good students to produce many more doctors.

"We need more medicos urgently for which the underprivileged section will have to be tapped. This scheme will allow those students to opt for medicine who would otherwise have chosen some other course. We are proud to be a stakeholder in this noble effort," De said. Titled Udayer Pathe, the scheme will select around seven Class VII students from 25 government schools in the state this session.

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In return for a commitment that they would study medicine, each student will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 500. They will also receive free medical treatment during the tenure of the scholarship.

AHF will assist the students in finding a berth in a medical college "based on merit" and arrange for a loan for the course.

"The idea is to inspire rural students to take up medicine. Due to the expenses involved, they have lost their aspiration. But they are probably more hard working, sincere and meritorious than their counterparts from the cities. All they need is a little financial help. We are running short of doctors and the gap can only be filled if students from the hinterland take up medicine," said Devi Shetty, chairman of AHF.

The school education department has chalked out a guideline for the selection procedure. It is yet to be finalised but AHF will have no role in the process.

"We have left it to them. They are in a better position to select the right candidates. Our target is to produce 2000 doctors from West Bengal every year. That will be possible only if we have more medical colleges and schemes like these," added Shetty.

Source- Times Of India, Dated, April-25,2007

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