former US official and his wife have been charged with spying for the Cuban government over a 30-year period.
Washington DC residents Walter Myers, 72, and Gwendolyn Myers, 71, are accused of acting as illegal agents for Cuba and wire fraud.
The couple could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
The arrest follows a sting operation by the FBI, in which an agent posing as a Cuban spy persuaded the couple to give him information about their activities.
Undercover agent
Mr Myers first began working for the US State Department in 1977 as an instructor at the Foreign Service Institute, where he was given security clearance to access information classified as Top Secret.
He was later granted an even higher security clearance, performing periodic work for the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) until 1999, when he joined INR on a permanent basis.
He retired in 2007.
Mr Myers married his wife Gwendolyn in 1982. She worked as an analyst at a Washington DC bank, and was never granted security clearance by the US government.
In an affidavit released by the US Justice Department, offiicals have revealed details of the sting operation conducted by the FBI.
According to the affidavit, an undercover agent posing as a member of the Cuban Intelligence Service approached Mr Myers, telling him that he had been sent by the Cuban government to obtain information from him.
During a subsequent meeting, Mr Myers and his wife agreed to provide information about US government personnel to the undercover agent, and made statements about their past activities for the Cuban government, the affidavit alleges.
Mr Myers was first approached by the Cuban government in 1978, the Justice Department says, and he and his wife agreed shortly afterwards to provide information to Cuban intelligence.
Officials instigated the undercover operation after an analysis of Mr Myers' State Department computer hard drive revealed that in 2006-2007 he accessed more than 200 sensitive or classified intelligence reports on the subject of Cuba, which were unrelated to his official work as a senior INR analyst for the European region.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Uranium found at second Syria site - IAEA
The UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, says traces of undeclared man-made uranium have been found at a second site in Syria, at a reactor in Damascus.
The IAEA is investigating US claims that a Syrian site destroyed in a 2007 Israeli raid was a nuclear reactor that was not yet operational.
Separately, the agency says Iran is continuing to enrich uranium in defiance of the UN Security Council.
Both Iran and Syria deny allegations of illicit nuclear activities.
'Link unclear'
Last year, the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) found particles of man-made uranium at the al-Kibar site in Syria, which was destroyed by Israeli missiles in September 2007.
Now in a confidential report obtained by the BBC, it says it has discovered new traces of uranium of a type not included in Syria's declared nuclear material.
The traces were found at a small reactor used for teaching in Damascus.
The IAEA says it is not clear whether there is a link between the particles found at the two sites.
In a separate report, the IAEA says Iran now has about 7,000 centrifuges - the machines used for enriching uranium. The agency says that Tehran is running almost 5,000 of them.
It also says that Iran has boosted its stockpile of low-enriched uranium (LEU) by 500kg to more than 1,300kg in the last six months.
David Albright of the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security think-tank has said that Iran now had enough LEU to convert into high-enriched uranium (HEU) to make one atomic bomb.
However, he said Iran would need to overcome some technical hurdles to achieve this - a process that could take several years or more.
A senior official close to the IAEA says the agency has made little progress in its investigations in Iran and in Syria.
The agency has urged both countries to co-operate with its inspectors.
The IAEA is investigating US claims that a Syrian site destroyed in a 2007 Israeli raid was a nuclear reactor that was not yet operational.
Separately, the agency says Iran is continuing to enrich uranium in defiance of the UN Security Council.
Both Iran and Syria deny allegations of illicit nuclear activities.
'Link unclear'
Last year, the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) found particles of man-made uranium at the al-Kibar site in Syria, which was destroyed by Israeli missiles in September 2007.
Now in a confidential report obtained by the BBC, it says it has discovered new traces of uranium of a type not included in Syria's declared nuclear material.
The traces were found at a small reactor used for teaching in Damascus.
The IAEA says it is not clear whether there is a link between the particles found at the two sites.
In a separate report, the IAEA says Iran now has about 7,000 centrifuges - the machines used for enriching uranium. The agency says that Tehran is running almost 5,000 of them.
It also says that Iran has boosted its stockpile of low-enriched uranium (LEU) by 500kg to more than 1,300kg in the last six months.
David Albright of the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security think-tank has said that Iran now had enough LEU to convert into high-enriched uranium (HEU) to make one atomic bomb.
However, he said Iran would need to overcome some technical hurdles to achieve this - a process that could take several years or more.
A senior official close to the IAEA says the agency has made little progress in its investigations in Iran and in Syria.
The agency has urged both countries to co-operate with its inspectors.
won't walk away, insists Brown
Gordon Brown has unveiled a reshuffled cabinet and vowed to "fight on" with his "resilient" team to rescue the economy and clean up politics.
He admitted Labour had suffered "a painful defeat" in Thursday's polls but added: "I will not waver. I will not walk away. I will get on with the job."
And he unveiled Glenys Kinnock as Europe minister in a surprise move.
Two more cabinet ministers - Geoff Hoon and John Hutton - have stepped down but neither backed a challenge to the PM.
Speaking at a Downing Street media conference, Mr Brown said the current political crisis, fuelled by the Westminster expenses scandal "is a test of everyone's nerve - mine, the government's, the country's".
He added: "If I didn't think I was the right person to lead these challenges I would not be standing here.
"I have faith in doing my duty... I believe in never walking away in difficult times."
Mr Brown defended Chancellor Alistair Darling as a "very good personal friend" and said the idea that the pair were split over the economy was "ridiculous".
Three new ministerial councils - the Democratic Renewal Council, the Domestic Policy Council and an enhanced National Economic Council - would report weekly to the cabinet, said Mr Brown.
Mandelson's role
But speculation about his future continued as Labour MP Ian Gibson said he was standing down to force a by-election in Norwich North - and said he thinks Mr Brown's days "are close to being numbered".
BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said if ministers had followed James Purnell in calling for Mr Brown to quit "we would today have had a new prime minister".
But the PM had still been forced to carry out an "emergency reshuffle based on his own personal survival", which had left him "not that much stronger".
In other moves, Alan Johnson becomes home secretary and Andy Burnham succeeds him at health.
Caroline Flint has quit as Europe minister, with Glenys Kinnock, wife of former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, who recently stood down as an MEP as her successor - she will be appointed to the House of Lords to be able to take the job.
Ms Flint is understood to have quit after Mr Brown failed to promote her to a full cabinet job.
In her resignation letter she launches a stinging attack on Mr Brown for allegedly treating women ministers "like female window dressing" and running a "two tier cabinet".
She said Mr Brown had "strained every sinew" of her loyalty to the government.
There has been speculation all week that Ms Flint was about to quit, yet she had taken to the airwaves to defend Mr Brown and declare her loyalty to him.
Labour's deputy leader, and minister for women and equality, Harriet Harman: "I can understand the frustration of any woman in politics, but I don't accept that Gordon doesn't take women in politics seriously - not at all."
Lord Mandelson's role has been expanded, giving him responsibility for higher education and training.
In what Nick Robinson said amounted to a deputy prime minister's role, he has also been given the titles of First Secretary of State and Lord President of the Council.
Mr Hoon has agreed to be the prime minister's European policy adviser ahead of the climate change talks in Copenhagen at the end of the year.
Bob Ainsworth becomes defence secretary and Peter Hain returns to the cabinet in his old job of Welsh Secretary. Ben Bradshaw joins the cabinet for the first time as culture secretary and Lord Adonis takes over at transport.
Universities Secretary John Denham succeeds Hazel Blears as communities secretary and Yvette Cooper replaces Mr Purnell as work and pensions secretary, with Liam Byrne replacing her as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Margaret Beckett and Tony McNulty are amongst those leaving the cabinet, the latter quitting his job as employment minister in an effort to clear his name over allegations about his expenses claims which are being investigated by the standards watchdog.
Election losses
John Hutton earlier quit as defence secretary and James Purnell quit on Thursday as work and pensions secretary - but no ministers have so far backed Mr Purnell's call for Mr Brown to "stand aside
Mr Hutton backed the prime minister and said he thought fellow Blairite Mr Purnell had made "the wrong decision" in calling for him to quit.
Alan Johnson, touted by some backbenchers as a possible leadership challenger, said he backed Mr Brown "to the hilt" to continue as prime minister.
He said he would "never say never" to becoming Labour leader at some point but could see no circumstances at present where he would mount a bid for the job.
He added that he was "really pleased" to be going to the Home Office, describing the job - regarded as something of a poisoned chalice - as an "invigorating challenge
But although no cabinet ministers have backed Mr Purnell, several backbench Labour MPs have continued to call for him to stand down.
Dr Gibson - stripped of the right to stand for Labour at the next election because of his expenses - said he would stand down now to trigger what is likely to be a potentially difficult by-election for Labour.
With the majority of results now in, the scale of Labour's defeat at the English local elections is also clear after it lost control of its four remaining English county councils.
According to the BBC's projected share of the national vote at a general election, based on the English local election results in so far, the Conservatives would poll 38%, the Lib Dems 28% and Labour would be third on 23%.
Conservative leader David Cameron said it showed his party was on course to win the next general election, adding that Labour had "lost the right to govern".
"We have clearly won this election and turned in some remarkably good results," he told BBC News.
Mr Clegg said Mr Brown's future as PM was "irrelevant" because the Labour government was "finished".
Labour is braced for another poor performance when the results of European elections are announced on Sunday.
And, in sign of the continuing febrile atmosphere, Nick Robinson said Gordon Brown had been forced to defend his expenses again over suggestions in the Daily Telegraph he claimed for electricity bills and service charges on two properties between 2005 and 2007.
A 10 spokesman insisted Mr Brown had complied with the rules at all times, a fact backed up by the Commons authorities, but he had agreed to repay about £180 "for the avoidance of doubt".
He admitted Labour had suffered "a painful defeat" in Thursday's polls but added: "I will not waver. I will not walk away. I will get on with the job."
And he unveiled Glenys Kinnock as Europe minister in a surprise move.
Two more cabinet ministers - Geoff Hoon and John Hutton - have stepped down but neither backed a challenge to the PM.
Speaking at a Downing Street media conference, Mr Brown said the current political crisis, fuelled by the Westminster expenses scandal "is a test of everyone's nerve - mine, the government's, the country's".
He added: "If I didn't think I was the right person to lead these challenges I would not be standing here.
"I have faith in doing my duty... I believe in never walking away in difficult times."
Mr Brown defended Chancellor Alistair Darling as a "very good personal friend" and said the idea that the pair were split over the economy was "ridiculous".
Three new ministerial councils - the Democratic Renewal Council, the Domestic Policy Council and an enhanced National Economic Council - would report weekly to the cabinet, said Mr Brown.
Mandelson's role
But speculation about his future continued as Labour MP Ian Gibson said he was standing down to force a by-election in Norwich North - and said he thinks Mr Brown's days "are close to being numbered".
BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said if ministers had followed James Purnell in calling for Mr Brown to quit "we would today have had a new prime minister".
But the PM had still been forced to carry out an "emergency reshuffle based on his own personal survival", which had left him "not that much stronger".
In other moves, Alan Johnson becomes home secretary and Andy Burnham succeeds him at health.
Caroline Flint has quit as Europe minister, with Glenys Kinnock, wife of former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, who recently stood down as an MEP as her successor - she will be appointed to the House of Lords to be able to take the job.
Ms Flint is understood to have quit after Mr Brown failed to promote her to a full cabinet job.
In her resignation letter she launches a stinging attack on Mr Brown for allegedly treating women ministers "like female window dressing" and running a "two tier cabinet".
She said Mr Brown had "strained every sinew" of her loyalty to the government.
There has been speculation all week that Ms Flint was about to quit, yet she had taken to the airwaves to defend Mr Brown and declare her loyalty to him.
Labour's deputy leader, and minister for women and equality, Harriet Harman: "I can understand the frustration of any woman in politics, but I don't accept that Gordon doesn't take women in politics seriously - not at all."
Lord Mandelson's role has been expanded, giving him responsibility for higher education and training.
In what Nick Robinson said amounted to a deputy prime minister's role, he has also been given the titles of First Secretary of State and Lord President of the Council.
Mr Hoon has agreed to be the prime minister's European policy adviser ahead of the climate change talks in Copenhagen at the end of the year.
Bob Ainsworth becomes defence secretary and Peter Hain returns to the cabinet in his old job of Welsh Secretary. Ben Bradshaw joins the cabinet for the first time as culture secretary and Lord Adonis takes over at transport.
Universities Secretary John Denham succeeds Hazel Blears as communities secretary and Yvette Cooper replaces Mr Purnell as work and pensions secretary, with Liam Byrne replacing her as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Margaret Beckett and Tony McNulty are amongst those leaving the cabinet, the latter quitting his job as employment minister in an effort to clear his name over allegations about his expenses claims which are being investigated by the standards watchdog.
Election losses
John Hutton earlier quit as defence secretary and James Purnell quit on Thursday as work and pensions secretary - but no ministers have so far backed Mr Purnell's call for Mr Brown to "stand aside
Mr Hutton backed the prime minister and said he thought fellow Blairite Mr Purnell had made "the wrong decision" in calling for him to quit.
Alan Johnson, touted by some backbenchers as a possible leadership challenger, said he backed Mr Brown "to the hilt" to continue as prime minister.
He said he would "never say never" to becoming Labour leader at some point but could see no circumstances at present where he would mount a bid for the job.
He added that he was "really pleased" to be going to the Home Office, describing the job - regarded as something of a poisoned chalice - as an "invigorating challenge
But although no cabinet ministers have backed Mr Purnell, several backbench Labour MPs have continued to call for him to stand down.
Dr Gibson - stripped of the right to stand for Labour at the next election because of his expenses - said he would stand down now to trigger what is likely to be a potentially difficult by-election for Labour.
With the majority of results now in, the scale of Labour's defeat at the English local elections is also clear after it lost control of its four remaining English county councils.
According to the BBC's projected share of the national vote at a general election, based on the English local election results in so far, the Conservatives would poll 38%, the Lib Dems 28% and Labour would be third on 23%.
Conservative leader David Cameron said it showed his party was on course to win the next general election, adding that Labour had "lost the right to govern".
"We have clearly won this election and turned in some remarkably good results," he told BBC News.
Mr Clegg said Mr Brown's future as PM was "irrelevant" because the Labour government was "finished".
Labour is braced for another poor performance when the results of European elections are announced on Sunday.
And, in sign of the continuing febrile atmosphere, Nick Robinson said Gordon Brown had been forced to defend his expenses again over suggestions in the Daily Telegraph he claimed for electricity bills and service charges on two properties between 2005 and 2007.
A 10 spokesman insisted Mr Brown had complied with the rules at all times, a fact backed up by the Commons authorities, but he had agreed to repay about £180 "for the avoidance of doubt".
Thursday, June 4, 2009
President Pratibha Patil unveils rice-to-riches plan
In its second innings, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has unveiled its showcase scheme — providing rice at Rs 3 a kg, at one fifth the market price, to 260 million people, or one fourth of India’s population.
Back on the basis of the inclusive India plank, the government’s agenda for the next five years, unveiled on Thursday, includes 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and assemblies.
Also on the agenda are 50 per cent reservations for women in local bodies — inspired by Bihar’s successful experiment, initiated two years ago.
In her first address to Parliament, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil unveiled welfare schemes like houses for the poor in rural and urban India that will cost the government a lot of money.
The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act alone, introduced by the Manmohan Singh government in its first avatar, cost the exchequer Rs 40,000 crore over the last three years.
The cheap rice scheme is estimated to fatten the subsidy bill — the difference between the price at which rice is bought by the government (Rs 15) and the price at which it will be sold (Rs 3) — by nearly Rs 17,000 crore.
“These initiatives were possible because high growth generated more resources. It is, therefore, imperative that our growth momentum is resumed,” Patil said.
She listed management of the economy as the government’s “immediate priority”,
“My government is determined to work harder and better to realise these goals,” she said, describing the election results as a mandate for “inclusive growth, equitable development and a secular and plural India”.
The roadmap unveiled by Patil emphasised upon combining economic reforms with enhanced public investment to spur growth and consolidation of flagship programmes like Bharat Nirman, apart from enhancing the government’s accountability.
She also unveiled a 22-point agenda for the government that would be initiated within the next 100 days. The government’s first policy statement carried the stamp of the Congress and its manifesto for the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. Unlike 2004, when the UPA’s National Common Minimum Programme carried the imprint of the Left as well, this time, the Congress’ dominance is reflected in the Presidential Address as well.
In its first term, the UPA government could not pursue insurance sector reforms that included increasing the foreign direct investment (FDI) cap from 26 per cent to 49 per cent because of stiff resistance from Left parties.
The bill to amend the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act to raise the FDI cap in the private sector insurance companies is pending in the Rajya Sabha.
The President took up internal security on early in her address. She said a policy of “zero-tolerance” towards terrorism would be pursued. “Stern measures to handle insurgency and left wing extremism will be taken,” she said.
Patil also said New Delhi sought to “re-shape” relations with Pakistan depending upon Islamabad’s “sincerity in confronting terror groups on its soil launching attacks against India”.
Back on the basis of the inclusive India plank, the government’s agenda for the next five years, unveiled on Thursday, includes 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and assemblies.
Also on the agenda are 50 per cent reservations for women in local bodies — inspired by Bihar’s successful experiment, initiated two years ago.
In her first address to Parliament, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil unveiled welfare schemes like houses for the poor in rural and urban India that will cost the government a lot of money.
The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act alone, introduced by the Manmohan Singh government in its first avatar, cost the exchequer Rs 40,000 crore over the last three years.
The cheap rice scheme is estimated to fatten the subsidy bill — the difference between the price at which rice is bought by the government (Rs 15) and the price at which it will be sold (Rs 3) — by nearly Rs 17,000 crore.
“These initiatives were possible because high growth generated more resources. It is, therefore, imperative that our growth momentum is resumed,” Patil said.
She listed management of the economy as the government’s “immediate priority”,
“My government is determined to work harder and better to realise these goals,” she said, describing the election results as a mandate for “inclusive growth, equitable development and a secular and plural India”.
The roadmap unveiled by Patil emphasised upon combining economic reforms with enhanced public investment to spur growth and consolidation of flagship programmes like Bharat Nirman, apart from enhancing the government’s accountability.
She also unveiled a 22-point agenda for the government that would be initiated within the next 100 days. The government’s first policy statement carried the stamp of the Congress and its manifesto for the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. Unlike 2004, when the UPA’s National Common Minimum Programme carried the imprint of the Left as well, this time, the Congress’ dominance is reflected in the Presidential Address as well.
In its first term, the UPA government could not pursue insurance sector reforms that included increasing the foreign direct investment (FDI) cap from 26 per cent to 49 per cent because of stiff resistance from Left parties.
The bill to amend the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act to raise the FDI cap in the private sector insurance companies is pending in the Rajya Sabha.
The President took up internal security on early in her address. She said a policy of “zero-tolerance” towards terrorism would be pursued. “Stern measures to handle insurgency and left wing extremism will be taken,” she said.
Patil also said New Delhi sought to “re-shape” relations with Pakistan depending upon Islamabad’s “sincerity in confronting terror groups on its soil launching attacks against India”.
Wake-up call for the future
The world will celebrate the 38th World Environment Day (WED) on Friday.
The WED theme for 2009 chosen by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is “Your Planet Needs You! Unite to Combat Climate Change.”
World Environment Day was established by the UN General Assembly in October 1972, to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, and the adoption of the Human Environment Declaration in June of the same year.
Another solution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of the UNEP.
From 1974, the UNEP annually chooses a theme for world environment day to boost worldwide awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and action.
With the development of industrialisation, humans created great wealth by making use of fossil fuels such as coal and crude oil, which has also brought on serious environmental problems caused by the emission of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
According to a UN report, the density of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased significantly due to human activities since 1750 and the density of carbon dioxide has reached the highest level in some 6,50,000 years.
The UN report estimates that natural disasters including floods and droughts will become more frequent and stronger than ever as glaciers all over the world have shrunk greatly due to climate warming.
The UNEP called on people to take concrete actions in this year’s WED theme because it is of great significance for individuals to be aware of environment protection, besides the efforts of governments, enterprise and organisations, in the face of climate change.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a message to the 2009 WED, said “The economic and financial turmoil sweeping the globe is a true wake-up call, sounding an alarm about the need to improve upon old patterns of growth and make a transition to new era of greener, cleaner development.”
The WED theme for 2009 chosen by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is “Your Planet Needs You! Unite to Combat Climate Change.”
World Environment Day was established by the UN General Assembly in October 1972, to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, and the adoption of the Human Environment Declaration in June of the same year.
Another solution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of the UNEP.
From 1974, the UNEP annually chooses a theme for world environment day to boost worldwide awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and action.
With the development of industrialisation, humans created great wealth by making use of fossil fuels such as coal and crude oil, which has also brought on serious environmental problems caused by the emission of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
According to a UN report, the density of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased significantly due to human activities since 1750 and the density of carbon dioxide has reached the highest level in some 6,50,000 years.
The UN report estimates that natural disasters including floods and droughts will become more frequent and stronger than ever as glaciers all over the world have shrunk greatly due to climate warming.
The UNEP called on people to take concrete actions in this year’s WED theme because it is of great significance for individuals to be aware of environment protection, besides the efforts of governments, enterprise and organisations, in the face of climate change.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a message to the 2009 WED, said “The economic and financial turmoil sweeping the globe is a true wake-up call, sounding an alarm about the need to improve upon old patterns of growth and make a transition to new era of greener, cleaner development.”
Medical scam just got bigger: PG seats for Rs 2cr
The TOI report on MBBS seats sold for between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 40 lakh by two private colleges in Chennai barely exposes the tip of the
iceberg. The scam gets bigger, more brazen as medical graduates embark on specializations that are necessary for a successful career. The price this year for a post-graduate seat in radiology in most leading private colleges across the country is Rs 2 crore while in cardiology, gynaecology and orthopaedics are priced around Rs 1.5 crore.
The main reason for such high rates is the dearth of seats for PG programmes. The average ratio of undergraduate (MBBS) seats to those for post-graduate is 100:29. In effect, nearly 32,000 doctors graduate from medical schools across the country every year, and the number of PG seats available to them is roughly one-third of the requirement.
Across India, there are 9,085 seats for clinical courses like cardiology, radiology, orthopaedics and gynaecology; a mere 662 seats for pre-clinical courses such as anatomy and physiology, and 1,303 seats in para-clinical programmes like pathology, micro-biology and forensic medicine. Of these, a large percentage are in private institutions which enjoy the freedom to charge hefty donations — which means, a bright MBBS graduate with no means to pay has few options.
``In India, only 80 doctors can become cardiologists in a year, while in the US, there are 800 positions to train cardiologists. As for kidney specialists, the US has more nephrologists of Indian origin than India has. India has only 60 seats for nephrology,'' said a Bangalore-based surgeon, who has been fighting for transparent admission procedures in admissions to graduate and post-graduate seats.
``Overall, less than 10% of the graduating medical batch gets PG seats through the general (government) pool,'' said the surgeon. Most PG seats, in simple terms, are auctioned or sold to the highest bidder. It's a system of exploitation that finds its eventual victim in the patient.
A senior doctor says, ``I agree the authorities can't increase seats easily because they don't have that many faculty members. But we need to make necessary amendments to the existing law to meet our growing demand. In the US, even an 80-year-old surgeon is legally authorized to do a brain surgery but here we ask a 60-year-old to retire from teaching,'' he said.
Another senior expert, who has held prestigious posts at the national level, says he has urged the UGC to hold centralized examinations like JEE for admissions to both MBBS and PG courses. ``It's a national shame to commercialize education. Besides, death of merit affects the quality of medical education. When money is paid, these colleges ensure that the exit is definite. The students pass, qualified or not,'' he said
iceberg. The scam gets bigger, more brazen as medical graduates embark on specializations that are necessary for a successful career. The price this year for a post-graduate seat in radiology in most leading private colleges across the country is Rs 2 crore while in cardiology, gynaecology and orthopaedics are priced around Rs 1.5 crore.
The main reason for such high rates is the dearth of seats for PG programmes. The average ratio of undergraduate (MBBS) seats to those for post-graduate is 100:29. In effect, nearly 32,000 doctors graduate from medical schools across the country every year, and the number of PG seats available to them is roughly one-third of the requirement.
Across India, there are 9,085 seats for clinical courses like cardiology, radiology, orthopaedics and gynaecology; a mere 662 seats for pre-clinical courses such as anatomy and physiology, and 1,303 seats in para-clinical programmes like pathology, micro-biology and forensic medicine. Of these, a large percentage are in private institutions which enjoy the freedom to charge hefty donations — which means, a bright MBBS graduate with no means to pay has few options.
``In India, only 80 doctors can become cardiologists in a year, while in the US, there are 800 positions to train cardiologists. As for kidney specialists, the US has more nephrologists of Indian origin than India has. India has only 60 seats for nephrology,'' said a Bangalore-based surgeon, who has been fighting for transparent admission procedures in admissions to graduate and post-graduate seats.
``Overall, less than 10% of the graduating medical batch gets PG seats through the general (government) pool,'' said the surgeon. Most PG seats, in simple terms, are auctioned or sold to the highest bidder. It's a system of exploitation that finds its eventual victim in the patient.
A senior doctor says, ``I agree the authorities can't increase seats easily because they don't have that many faculty members. But we need to make necessary amendments to the existing law to meet our growing demand. In the US, even an 80-year-old surgeon is legally authorized to do a brain surgery but here we ask a 60-year-old to retire from teaching,'' he said.
Another senior expert, who has held prestigious posts at the national level, says he has urged the UGC to hold centralized examinations like JEE for admissions to both MBBS and PG courses. ``It's a national shame to commercialize education. Besides, death of merit affects the quality of medical education. When money is paid, these colleges ensure that the exit is definite. The students pass, qualified or not,'' he said
ICC T20 World Cup kicking off today
The ICC World Twenty20 tournament is kicking off today with England to be facing the Netherlands in the opening match at Lords.
England are feeling positive ahead of their first Group B match following a convincing win over the West Indies in a warm up game on Wednesday.
Captain Paul Collingwood said, "We know we're going to have to play to our absolute potential to get to those semi-finals, but there's a lot of confidence around at the moment and it's all good - there's a real feelgood factor in the team."
England will look to improve their record in the limited overs tournament after only winning one game in the inaugural cup in South Africa two years ago.
India are favourites to win and they face Bangladesh in Group A on Saturday.
The group stages are made up of the top 12 cricket-playing nations in four groups of three.
The top two from each group go through to the Super Eights made up of two groups of four.
The semi-finals consist of the top two teams in those groups and will be played at Trent Bridge and The Oval.
The final takes place at Lord's on Sunday 21 June.
England are feeling positive ahead of their first Group B match following a convincing win over the West Indies in a warm up game on Wednesday.
Captain Paul Collingwood said, "We know we're going to have to play to our absolute potential to get to those semi-finals, but there's a lot of confidence around at the moment and it's all good - there's a real feelgood factor in the team."
England will look to improve their record in the limited overs tournament after only winning one game in the inaugural cup in South Africa two years ago.
India are favourites to win and they face Bangladesh in Group A on Saturday.
The group stages are made up of the top 12 cricket-playing nations in four groups of three.
The top two from each group go through to the Super Eights made up of two groups of four.
The semi-finals consist of the top two teams in those groups and will be played at Trent Bridge and The Oval.
The final takes place at Lord's on Sunday 21 June.
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