Fear missing exam due to internet lockdown
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Nov 5: As National Board of Examinations (NBE) puts out a schedule for the conduct of National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET)-PG 2020, scores of doctors are facing difficulties in submitting their application forms online due to the non-availability of internet services. The process of registering for the test has already begun on November 1 and is inching swiftly towards the deadline of November 21.
Scores of doctors who are intending to appear in the examination for their MD and MS degrees told Excelsior that with the non-availability of internet services in Valley, they, so far, have not been able to submit their application forms for the examination set to be held on January 5 next year.
They said that they are now, either, compelled to go to Jammu-where the broadband services are functional, or Delhi so that they can submit their application for the examination. “We have been left with no option, but to move out in order to fulfill the formalities for the examination,” a doctor said.
Pertinent to mention, as the administration has set up internet kiosks at District Headquarters across the Valley, the doctors are saying that they won’t be able to complete the process there. “It really gets chaotic due to the rush of people and submitting the application is quite delicate, one has to be cautious,” another doctor said, adding that if the administration would have restored internet at the hospital, “we would have been able to complete the formalities.”
NEET-PG-a Computer Based Test-conducted in one single session, is an eligibility-cum-ranking examination prescribed as the single entrance examination to various MD/MS and PG Diploma Courses as per Section (10) D of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. Moreover, no other entrance examination, either at State or institution level, is considered valid for the entry to MD/ MD/ PG Diploma Courses.
Meanwhile, Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Atal Dulloo told Excelsior there are internet kiosks already in place in all the districts in Valley. “The administration will see to the fact how it can facilitate such aspirants further,” he said.
There seems to be more to the story where the doctors are facing trouble in getting the formalities done. Many other doctors have either missed several other examinations held by different agencies, or have travelled to other parts of the J&K where the internet services are functional.
“A friend of mine was to appear in an examination a month ago, but he was not able to get the formalities done on time, thus, he missed the examination. Another friend had to travel to Ramban in Jammu division in order to get the formalities done,” said a doctor working in Jammu, luckily able to submit his NEET examination form.
He said that it was only with regard to the application forms meant to be submitted online with which the candidates were facing difficulties. “But, overall the research work has been hit badly-as most of the things with regard to the research are carried out online,” he said.
Pertinent to mention, the internet services continue to remain shut in the Valley since August 5, post stripping J&K of it special status. While the mobile telephony was restored on November 14, there is no hint given out by the administration with regard to resumption of internet services in the Valley.
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