Colour blind can now take NEET

Pervin Malhotra
email your queries to careers@tribunemail.com 

Q. Our son who is currently in Class XII has been diagnosed as colour blind. He has been preparing for his medical entrances for the past two years. He is utterly heart-broken that he won’t be able to clear the screening for CVD for taking the NEET. Does this only apply to MBBS? — Vinita Sethi

A.Following the recommendation of the Supreme Court-appointed committee, the Medical Council of India (MCI) lifted its decades-old ban on people with colour vision deficiency (CVD) from taking the NEET.

As a result, the mandatory screening for colour-blindness was done away with. Not just that, the panel also suggested that CVD should not be an absolute bar for pursuing the medical profession — i.e. not just for NEET but even upon completion of study or while registering as a medical practitioner. Oh and by the way, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has just patented a new trade logo (“Dr” written in white in the center of a red cross) to establish the identity of MBBS and higher medical degree-holders. This will distinguish genuine allopathic doctors from unauthorised doctors, RMPs and quacks.

Homeopathy, Ayurveda and veterinary practitioners as well as pharmacies and chemists have been barred from using this new logo. Those using the logo in an unauthorised manner will be liable for legal action. So now your son can happily sport this logo once he graduates. Just encourage him to continue his preparation in dead earnest.

Worth taking a plunge?

Q.I am working in the gen administration at a reputed company. I have an opportunity to do the same kind of work in a small NGO, with a bigger pay packet but at a lower designation. Is it worth considering? I am 28. I am tempted by the challenge of doing something different in a new place. — Manisha Rastogi

A.Are you sure you’ve given serious and sufficient thought to quitting you current job to move to an NGO. Typically, someone would move to an NGO driven by an impulse to do something ‘more meaningful’ or something that makes a “difference” at the grassroots level etc. In which case, the focus is more on making a serious contribution and gaining experience rather than on the monetary reward.

By stating that you’re being offered a lower designation and a higher package, you seem to be moving to the NGO as a career move rather than with any altruistic motive. It isn’t wrong to do so, but you must be clear about the implications. And yes, working with an NGO is a completely different experience. Some introspection and clarity of thought on your goals will tell you whether the move is worth it. A via media may be looking for a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) role in your current organization’s CSR department or that at another large company. This will give you an opportunity to test the waters as it were. And take a full plunge later. The CSR role can be equally challenging and rewarding. Do think about it. 

Open school opportunity for diploma holders

Q. As I was not very good at studies, and our financial condition was not good at that time, I opted for a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering straight after Class XII. Now I have become serious and realise the value of education. As I do not have a Class XII certificate, it has become very difficult for me to pursue further studies barring taking lateral entry into the second year of a BTech degree. Should I enroll for Class XI and continue my studies. I am very confused. — Arun Kumar

A.No, I don’t think you need to do that! The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) offers a wonderful provision for diploma-holders like you. Under this provision, diploma holders need to study and clear only two papers to get a Class XII certification.  Similarly, NIOS also gives students the option of just appearing for one single paper (that too on demand) e.g. maths or physics even after completing your cClass XII from another board should you feel the need to have that subject in your mark-sheet to fulfill certain admission requirements.

For further details, please check www.nios.ac.in