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India; Optometry students threaten protest

With the fate of hundreds of graduates of optometry in dark for
not having the licence to practise, students are now planning to
launch an demonstration.
Almost 100 students of optometry, who had graduated from West
Bengal University of Technology (WBUT), want their course to be
recognised by the state Health department so that they could be
given the licence to practise.
On Friday, around 20 to 30 students even Gheraoed the
vice-chancellor of WBUT till late evening and put forth three main
demands: to bring the course syllabus under the purview of West
Bengal University of Health Sciences, to make it recognised in the
medical field, and the university should provide for internships
and rights to practise.
According to the university officials, in 2001 it was
inadvertently said that those getting the optometry degree or
diploma would be able to practice. However, it was later clarified
and the students were informed that they would not be able to do so
in 2006.
"These students are suffering and we understand that. The
problem is difficult to be resolved by the university alone. There
is also the problem of no recognised council where the students
could go," said Sabyasachi Sengupta, V-C of the WBUT.
According to the members of the Graduate Optometry Associations,
unless the authorities meet the demands, they are determined to go
in for largescale protests.
Sengupta said they have held a meeting with the state Health
department urging them to approve the course. However, he is still
waiting for the recommendations, which have been forwarded to
higher education and university level.
"Some experts in the health ministry can reach out to the
students and resolve the crisis," said the V-C. However, university
authorities claim the students having four-year degree or the
diploma course can practise freely in private facilities.
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