SRINAGAR: In Ladakh, the administration has made compulsory singing bonds of serving the area if they wish to avail reservations in medical schools. The region, now a separate Union Territory, has two major hospitals but not a medical college.
Reports appearing in the media said the administration in Leh has issued an order late last year making it compulsory for ST students to sign bonds that they will serve the region. This will be penalised to the tune of Rs 50 lakh for MBBS and Rs 30 lakh for BDS students in case they do not serve for five years and three years in the region, respectively.
An additional rider is that they will have to complete the degrees as well. In case they fail in getting degrees, they will have to pay half of the amount as a penalty to the administration.
The system of enforcing mandatory serving the areas where the students avail education is in vogue in many states having a medical education facility. However, Ladakh is yet to have a medical college. It, however, has two major hospitals in Leh and Kargil.
