The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Rural service

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 17, 2007
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Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Rural service

The government’s proposal to introduce compulsory one-year rural service for students of medicine is praiseworthy. But the manner in which it is being sought to be implemented is unacceptable. Students should be informed of the condition at the time of admission. And they should be given the option to choose the time — maybe within five to 10 years of getting the degree. Most important, the government should address the students’ concerns instead of forcing them to obey.

R. Manikandan,

Chennai

* * *

The proposal is akin to constructing a superstructure without infrastructure. It is necessary to provide doctors decent accommodation and good schools for their children. Medicine supplies to villages should be ensured. Politicians belonging to rural areas should go for treatment only to rural centres — and not run to cities — so that doctors will be inspired to work. Doctors who successfully complete the rural service programme should be awarded special recognition and given incentives such as brighter chances of promotion.

B.S. Ganesh,

Bangalore

* * *

Compelling young and inexperienced doctors to serve in villages is against their right to freedom. The government can consider awarding extra marks to students for rural service and adding them to the marks obtained in post-graduate entrance tests; providing increment in pay to doctors serving in villages; giving preference in promotions to doctors on the basis of the number of years served in villages; and increasing retirement benefits for every year of rural service up to a hundred per cent.

Dr. Sivanandam,

Pollachi

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