JULY 2014

Point of View
SHIV ‘RAJ’ ROCKED
A
student, a commoner, ended her life in Bhopal. Nothing big to stir anyone, but
the student, a class XII pass-out took the extreme step to end her life after two
failed attempts to crack MP Pre-Medical Test (PMT). On both occasions she
could not make it to her dream career just by few marks and went into depression. Little
did she realize that she and all other students like her were not at fault. It was not that
they were found wanting in their studies and pursuit of their goals but for the lack of
resources, connections and money to buy a medical seat.
Very true, while aspiring medicos put their best effort to crack the so-called tough
entrance examinations, the system has generated a class who can walk away with a
seat in under-graduate, PG or any job by throwing some cash. The very system made
to recognize merit, has become immune to the struggle, sacrifice and hardwork
of common students and their parents. It is the ineligibles, those having the right
connection and money who are easily bulldozing and trampling aspirations of such
hardworking students. The Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB)
scam involving PMT, medical pre-PG and job recruitments that have went on to
become independent India’s biggest entrance test, job scam have proved it absolutely
right. Might is right.
A probe by Special Task Force found about 1,200 medical students, who secured
admissions to various medical colleges in the state through unfair means. Admissions
of these students from 2008 to 2013 batch been cancelled. The probe has resulted in the
arrest of more than 1,000 people including the high and mighty. Medical seats in PMT
were sold for Rs 20 lakh to Rs 50 lakh while medical-pre PG seats were sold for about Rs
80 lakh in connivance with corrupt politicians, middlemen, scamsters, bureaucrats and
officers. Talent that needed to be recognized have been given a go by.
Look at the name of the accused emerging out of STF list, Sudhir Sharma- a teacher
at a RSS-run primary school who has become mining baron in the state in about a
decade, Laxmikant Sharma, the former higher education minister, who swore by the
constitution to protect integrity of the nation and its people, Dr Pankaj Trivedi, a stooge
planted as Examination Controller in MPPEB by Sharma and co. To cap it up arrests of
four people by Delhi crime branch from New Delhi suggest that the state civil service
examinations 2012-13 conducted by MP Public Service Commission was also rigged.
Allegations of corruption have not left even Chief Minister’s residence and Rajbhawan
scarred, leading to an emotional Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan admitting in
MP Assembly that of the 70,000 odd recruitments made by state government 1,000
were found to be through unfair means. Will his statement that he is personally hurt
by allegations leveled on his, kin serve any purpose and soothe the thousands of
hardworking students who have been cheated? Who will take the responsibility? Can the
system be cleaned of the wrongdoers? Is this the Shiv ‘Raj’ people of Madhya Pradesh
wanted when they elected his for the third successive time with a massive mandate?
Dr. Shiv Kumar Rai
Editor-in-Chief
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