NSUI holds protests against fee hike in medical courses

Members of the National Student Union of India (NSUI) — the students’ wing of the Indian National Congress (INC), on Friday staged protests at 13 Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society (GMERS) campuses across the state — against the recent fee hike by the Gujarat government.

Earlier this week, MP Shaktisinh Gohil, also the president of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC), had demanded the withdrawal of the fee hike for medical courses under the GMERS, stating that if not done so, the grand old party will stage protests across the state.

Gohil had also written a letter to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Health Minister Rushikesh Patal over the issue.

According to the Congress, due to the increase in fees for medical courses — between 67 per cent and 88 per cent — the parents are under financial stress. There are 13 GMERS medical colleges across the state.

On June 28, the state government had issued a government resolution (GR) for the academic year 2024-25, mentioning that fees will be increased a 67 per cent spike in government quota and 88 per cent (management quota); a $3,000 hike has been announced in the NRI quota.

In the government quota seats, the annual fee of Rs 3.30 lakh has been increased to Rs 5.50 lakh (an increase of 66.66 per cent) and for management from Rs 9 lakh to Rs 17 lakh (an increase of 88.88 per cent).