Ladakh admin refuses to budge, comes out with ‘revised’ CGSP for medical students
Ladakh UT administration has refused to budge from its Compulsory Government Service Policy (CGSP) for medical students despite stiff opposition by student organizations, social and political groups and decided to bring a slightly revised policy into effect from the current academic session 2022.
The health and medical education department Ladakh in its revised policy, which is more or less similar to the earlier notification issued on August 23 last year, made it mandatory for all MBBS and PG medical students to sign a bond for serving in Ladakh for a period of five years and three years respectively before they are allocated medical seats from Central and J&K State Pool seats.
The health department has cited the scarcity of doctors in the Union Territory of Ladakh as the reason behind the introduction of CGSP, saying “there is an urgent need to take certain measures to ensure availability of doctors to provide quality healthcare to people in the Union Territory of Ladakh”.
“With the objective of overcoming scarcity of doctors in Ladakh, the Administration of Union Territory had formulated the Compulsory Government Service Policy for those who avail Central Pool Ladakh Merit Seats or J&K State Pool Ladakh Merit Seats under the notification issued on August 23,” an order of health and medical education department said.
“In the bond, the candidate will state that he or she will serve under the UT Administration of Ladakh for a compulsory period of five years immediately after successful completion of MBBS Course. If he or she fails to serve the aforesaid stipulated period, he/she shall have to pay an amount of Rs.50,00000 to the administration,” the order stated.
It further stated, “He/she shall serve under the Administration of Union territory of Ladakh for a compulsory period of three years immediately after successful completion of PG Degree in Clinical Courses. If he/she fails to serve the aforesaid stipulated period of three years, he/she shall be required to pay an amount of Rs.50,00000 to UT Administration”.
“The candidate will have to serve for a compulsory period of two years immediately after successful completion of the Medical Course not covered under clause (a) and (b) above. If he/she fails to serve for the stipulated period, he/she shall be required to pay an amount of Rs45,00000,” it said, adding “Before allocating a Central Pool Ladakh Merit Seat or J&K State Pool Ladakh Merit Seat, Director, Health Services, or J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE) will obtain the Bond in original from the candidate who intends to avail such a seat”.
The revised policy said that a candidate, who is serving compulsory period, would be permitted to undergo PG Degree course or PG Diploma course, but he/she would be required to serve the remaining bond period after successful completion of PG Degree course or PG Diploma course, as the case may be, such that he/she serves a total compulsory period of five years.
