Chennai: Protesting the Centre's move to introduce a bill in the current Parliament session making rural postings compulsory for MBBS students, medicos from three medical colleges here boycotted classes this morning and took out a rally later in the day.

About 1,500 students from Madras Medical College, Stanley Medical College and Kilpauk Medical College took part in the protests, a spokesperson of the Tamil Nadu Medical Students and House Surgeon's Council (Chennai) said. The further course of action will be taken after a meeting of various representatives on November 19 - he added.

The students took out a rally from the Monroe Statue here to the Chepauk Guest House. The students have also sought the intervention of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on the issue.

The DMK patriarch, along with Left parties, had in October extended support to them when they first protested against the proposal by Union Health and Family Welfare minister Anbumani Ramadoss.

The students contend that the one year rural posting will increase the course duration to six-and-a-half years from its present five-and-a-half years, prolonging their study period, including post Graduation and risk their career prospects.

Medicos in the state have been unhappy over the proposal by the Union Health Ministry, which wants students to serve in villages for one year, as part of the MBBS curriculum.

Last month, agitating students withdrew their protest following an assurance from Ramadoss that the issue would be solved amicably.

Source : PTI