The government's announcement of 27% reservation for OBCs in all India quota for medical seats has brought great relief and cheer for the OBCs. It is worth pondering as to who amongst them will garner the seats. Most likely they may be from the well-off students who could afford the costly coaching etc leaving out a very large group of economically weaker sections amongst them. A plausible solution is to do away with NEET examination and allot seats through a computerised lottery system. This will at least ensure equal opportunity for all the students regardless of their economic status. But this should be followed by extending the course concerned , at least the undergraduate programme, by one year. The first year should be used to conduct remedial and bridge courses to bring all the students to come up to a defined standard, including discipline, aptitude, motivation for putting in hours of long hard work etc.
Those who do not measure up should be asked to leave. This arrangement, while giving equal chance to every student will also ensure that only those who can cope with the rigours of a medical education will continue.
Raghavan