AIDSO stages protests in Kalaburagi, Ballari against NRI quota in govt. medical colleges

Students under the banner of the All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) took out protest marches and staged demonstrations in Kalaburagi and Ballari on Wednesday demanding that the State government immediately withdraw its decision to introduce 15% NRI quota in government medical colleges from the academic year 2025-26.

In Kalaburagi, hundreds of students marched from SVP Circle to the Deputy Commissioner’s office before staging a sit-in.

Addressing the gathering, AIDSO district secretary Tuljaram N.K. said that the move amounted to “grave injustice” to poor and meritorious students.

“Government medical colleges are meant to provide affordable, quality education for talented students irrespective of their background. By setting aside seats for wealthy NRI students, the government is shutting down doors on hundreds of deserving youth from working class families,” he said.

Other speakers pointed out that with 15% of seats already allotted under the All India quota, an additional 15% for NRIs will leave only about 140 seats out of every 200 for students in the State.

They urged the State to drop the quota move and instead, strengthen infrastructure and fill vacant teaching posts in government medical colleges.

In Ballari, AIDSO members staged a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office and submitted a memorandum to be sent to the Minister for Medical Education.

The former State president of AIDSO Pramod strongly criticised the government’s decision.

“At a time when over 12,000 teaching posts are lying vacant in government medical colleges, the priority should be to fill those vacancies and improve infrastructure not to sell seats to the rich under the guise of NRI quota,” he said.

Calling the quota move a dangerous step towards turning public medical colleges into profit-oriented institutions, the student leaders demanded that it be scrapped immediately.

They insisted that the government must instead ensure opportunities for all deserving students, especially from disadvantaged background.