Parents of medical students in Maharashtra seek hostel, mess fee waiver for lockdown period, colleges deny request

Many parents of medical students have questioned medical institutes’ decision to claim full fees for hostel and mess facilities even though these were not utilised

Many parents of medical students have questioned medical institutes’ decision to claim full fees for hostel and mess facilities even though these were not utilised last year because of the lockdown.

(Representational image) Certain medical institutions have offered discounts or given the option of paying the fees in instalments. (HT Photo)

A parent of a student at a private medical college in Pune said, “Since March 2020, my son has been studying from home. May onwards all second, third and fourth-year medical students were on Covid duty and there was no option of staying in hostels. Then why are we paying for services that were not used?”

Some parents have raised their concerns with the respective college management. Certain institutions have offered discounts or given the option of paying the fees as instalments. A parent of a student at a Nashik-based private medical college said hostel and mess fees amounted to approximately Rs 1.45 lakh per year. “Based on our grievances, the institute agreed to reduce the component by Rs 15,000,” said the parent, who felt this was not enough.

Not all parents are upset at the institutes claiming full fees. “Almost all state colleges asked for fees in 2020 and they gave enough time to make the payment. It was clarified that the institutes too have to incur cost of staff salary and maintenance of the hostels,” said activist Sudha Shenoy, who is also a parent of a medical student.