Paper fiasco: Mamata rues fate of Bengali medium students in NEET

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday regretted the way Bengali medium students were deprived in the national level single medical entrance examination and also instructed the health officials to follow up the issue.

Banerjee was speaking at the 6th convocation of the West Bengal University of Health Sciences at Najrul Mancha on Thursday. Following the question paper fiasco in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), the Chief Minister had written to the Union Human Resource Development minister Prakash Javadekar, demanding a re-examination.

There was a huge number of errors and ambiguity in the questions of NEET, which were translated into Bengali. NEET was conducted across the country last Sunday.

After the question paper fiasco came into light, Banerjee took up the issue with the Centre, urging it to look into the matter.

"Many of our students have been deprived in NEET. I have written a letter to the Centre as there were errors in the questions. The issue must be followed up. Bengali medium students cannot be deprived in this manner," Banerjee said.

She also said that the health infrastructure in Bengal has received a significant boost in the past few years. All the facilities are now available in the state-run hospitals. The doctors are giving their best and junior doctors are bearing huge pressure in all the medical colleges and hospitals.

Banerjee on Thursday also reacted to the death of a patient at Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, after he was denied an implant device by the storekeeper, who had allegedly demanded money from his family.

"I am deeply pained by the incident where a patient died without getting the required treatment at the state-run hospital. People are getting treatment at all the hospitals free of cost. Some unholy people are trying to malign the Health department," Banerjee maintained.

It may be mentioned that the victim Amit Mandal (23) was suffering from brain aneurysm, a bulging blood vessel in the brain. He died as the storekeeper allegedly withheld his file for many days and demanded hefty money to provide a free stent. The storekeeper was arrested on the basis of the complaint lodged by the victim's family members.

"Around 99 percent people in the Health department are doing a good job. Only one percent people are earning bad names for the department. Why will a poor patient's file be stuck in this manner? How can a person demand money when the government is providing free treatment?" Banerjee said.

Palash Dutta, the storekeeper at the Bangur Institute of Neurosciences (BIN), had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 3 lakh from Mandal's family, for completing the paperwork required for getting a sanction for the stent, costing around Rs 7 lakh.

The Chief Minister distributed certificates to the doctors who have completed their PhD, Doctorate in medicine, Masters in surgery etc.