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Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
When will disabled NEET aspirants get their SC-sanctioned rights?
Written by Satendra Singh A NEET aspirant with a disability has been messaging me continually since March. Her only question: 'When will the National Medical Commission (NMC) issue revised disability guidelines for MBBS and MD/MS, as per the Supreme Court's directions?' On 14 June 2025, the NEET-UG results were declared. Over 750 students with disabilities from diverse communities — General, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS — have qualified. However, their joy is short-lived. The silence of the NMC and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has left them paralysed by uncertainty. Which guidelines will apply? Have more disability assessment centres been designated? Which colleges can they safely choose? The promised web portal listing accessibility-compliant colleges — as ordered by the apex court — is still absent. This is not merely a bureaucratic delay. It seems to be a defiance of the Supreme Court's orders, a betrayal of India's constitutional promise of equality, and perhaps even contempt of court. In April 2022, the Delhi High Court in Neha Pudil vs NMC directed that the discriminatory disability guidelines be revised within six months. Two years later, that direction remains unimplemented. Then in October 2024, the Supreme Court in Omkar Ramchandra Gond vs UOI mandated the NMC to revise its guidelines before the NEET 2025 brochure was published and to establish an Appellate Medical Body. The brochure was released, but the guidelines and the body were not. In the same month, in another landmark judgment — Om Rathod vs DGHS — the apex court went further, ordering the establishment of enabling units for reasonable accommodations, accessibility compliance details on the NEET portal, functional support, including assistive technology, modified pedagogy, and trained staff. None of these directives has been followed. By November 2024, the situation was so dire that the Supreme Court had to summon the DGHS in Anmol vs UOI. Only after the embarrassment of public scrutiny did Anmol receive his rightful MBBS seat. Still, the DGHS has ignored directions to establish Disability Assessment Boards (DABs) in every state and to include doctors with disabilities in these boards, as well as provide them with training on disability justice and ableism. Following the SC's lead, the Punjab and Haryana High Court in January also ordered the formation of an Appellate Board. The NMC ignored that, too. In February 2025, the apex court finally struck down the infamous 'both hands intact' clause as ableist and left scope for further compliance review. But in March, the Suyash Patil case exposed the NMC's indifference again: the student lost an entire academic year due to a clerical lapse in DAB records. The NMC's solution? Accommodate next year. Even when the NMC did form a committee, it stuffed it with the same architects of the old discriminatory policy. Tokenism ruled: just one doctor with a disability, from an institution outside the NMC's purview, with no undergraduate programme. Expectedly, this committee missed its 15 April deadline to publish the revised guidelines. Then came May, and the Kabir Paharia case. The Supreme Court gave relief only one day before NEET 2025. Another student was rescued. Another year lost. Another trauma inflicted. As of today, both the NMC and DGHS have violated their affidavit in the Anmol matter, which had promised to release guidelines by 15 April 2025. NEET 2025 results are out. But disabled aspirants are frozen in limbo, deprived of the ability to plan or hope. Worse, the very committee revising the guidelines includes no medical student with a disability. This is a violation not just of principles of participatory justice, but also of international norms. The World Federation for Medical Education — to which NMC is affiliated — mandates in its Basic Medical Standards (2020) under Clauses 4 and 8 that students must be involved in governance. What we are witnessing is institutionalised impunity. The NMC and DGHS have now routinely defied not just one, but multiple High Court and Supreme Court directives. Why then has no contempt proceeding been initiated? Justice delayed is not only justice denied — it becomes injustice institutionalised. Every day of inaction from the NMC and DGHS is a day of stolen dreams, heightened anxiety, and unconstitutional discrimination against India's most marginalised NEET qualifiers. It is now imperative that the Supreme Court's vacation bench takes suo motu cognisance of this deliberate, systemic, and continuing contempt — and that real accountability, not symbolic compliance, is finally enforced. The writer teaches at the University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, and is a disability rights activist. Views are personal
RTHK
10-06-2025
- RTHK
DAB calls for smart technology at more housing estates
DAB calls for smart technology at more housing estates The DAB say almost all residents they surveyed in Sham Shui Po would like to see smart estate management expanded to more public housing estates. Photo: RTHK The DAB on Tuesday urged the government and Housing Authority to continue rolling out smart estate management at public housing estates in Sham Shui Po, to improve the well-being of residents. Smart estate management, which has already been implemented in the district's Hoi Ying Estate, includes using technology such as Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and robots to deal with matters such as the maintenance of public facilities and strengthening hygiene and cleanliness. DAB legislators and district councillors said almost all residents they surveyed in Sham Shui Po would like to see the system expanded to other estates. '[Hoi Ying Estate] residents usually complain that there's a lot of illegal parking blocking the road. Now they have these sensors to make sure, if the people illegally park, they will quickly notice,' said lawmaker Vincent Cheng. Cheng said he believed smart technology can be used to resolve problems that affect residents and urged the government to make more use of it to manage public housing estates.
RTHK
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- RTHK
More car spaces 'key to easing Yau Tsim Mong woes'
More car spaces 'key to easing Yau Tsim Mong woes' The party says the additional parking spaces can be carved out from land allocated for the Central Kowloon Route project. Photo: RTHK The DAB is proposing that Yau Tsim Mong gets more than 200 additional parking spaces. The suggestion is made in light of the seriousness of illegal parking in the district, which accounts for one third of Hong Kong's parking tickets handed out by the Kowloon West police region last year. According to the Transport and Logistics Bureau in April, the amount collected from those tickets alone came in at more than HK$260 million. The party says that the main solution should be more parking spaces and better management of existing ones. "So our party argues that simply by increasing parking fees may not solve the underlying issue of insufficient supply," said a district council member Benjamin Choi. "The only long-term and constructive solution is to increase the number of parking the worsening traffic congestion problems can then be resolved." The DAB said the government can make use of part of the area allocated to the Central Kowloon Route project to build a smart underground car park as well as add more parking meters in the area. It also suggests greater promotion of available spaces through the app HKeMeter. For instance, there are spaces at West Kowloon Government Offices during non-office hours or around Kowloon Park that the DAB says do not get enough promotion. "We will follow up on our advice and also arrange meetings with government officials to see how we can push forward with our advice," Choi said.
RTHK
23-05-2025
- Politics
- RTHK
DAB urges MTR to offer free rides as compensation
DAB urges MTR to offer free rides as compensation DAB lawmaker Stanley Li says the MTR Corporation will likely be fined in excess of HK$10 million but that this does not have a strong enough deterrent effect. Photo: RTHK The DAB has urged MTR Corporation to offer free rides to compensate passengers hit by the long suspension of services along the entire Tseung Kwan O line that began with the evening rush hour on Thursday . The party's lawmaker, Stanley Li, said on Friday the MTRC would likely be fined more than HK$10 million due to the incident but stressed that this does not have a strong enough deterrent effect. 'We think yesterday's service disruption was far too serious," he said. "We hope that the MTR can offer affected passengers, especially residents of Tseung Kwan O, a free return journey on weekdays as compensation.' Li also said the government and the MTR should have enhance their cooperation and initiated emergency measures earlier, noting that many passengers were still stranded at Tiu Keng Leng station on Thursday night. He further called for the government to initiate a study on building a fourth cross-harbour tunnel in Area 137 – an area located near the Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate that is currently being used as a fill bank – saying it could ease traffic jams during major railway service disruptions. The DAB also urged the MTR to review its guidelines on emergency handling and enhance staff training for better emergency response capabilities. Sai Kung district councillor Sze Pan-pan said she had observed that MTR staff were not armed with walkie-talkies on Thursday night while directing crowds to alternative means of transport, which made the distribution of real-time information highly inefficient. The party also urged the MTR to explain the cause of the major disruption during the railway subcommittee meeting in the Legislative Council on Monday and to submit a thorough investigation report within a week.
Time Business News
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time Business News
Upgrade Your Car Radio with DAB+: Why It's Time to Go Digital
Digital Audio Broadcasting Plus (DAB+) has rapidly become the standard for in-car radio across Europe. With clearer sound, more station choices, and on-screen metadata, DAB+ leaves traditional FM far behind. If your vehicle still relies on FM-only reception, here's why upgrading to DAB+ is a game-changer—and how to do it right. Digital transmission means no static, no fading signals, and consistent stereo quality, even at highway speeds. Unlike FM, DAB+ radios display a list of stations by name—no more guessing frequencies. You'll also enjoy extras like song titles, artists, news headlines, or traffic updates directly on your screen. With FM gradually phased out in many regions, DAB+ is no longer just an upgrade but a necessity for reliable radio. Choose an aftermarket radio that has DAB+ built in. Many models also include Bluetooth, USB, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay—adding modern convenience to your dashboard. To connect your new unit without splicing factory cables, use a quality Autoradio Adapter. This preserves all vehicle functions, from ignition sensing to dashboard illumination. DAB+ operates on frequencies between 174–237 MHz and 470–958 MHz, which your stock FM antenna can't always handle. There are two main retrofit options: Window Antenna : A self-adhesive antenna mounts inside your windshield. It's discreet and simple to install. : A self-adhesive antenna mounts inside your windshield. It's discreet and simple to install. Antenna Splitter: If you're in a strong coverage area, splitting the existing FM antenna signal can suffice. For a brand-new aerial approach, consider a dedicated DAB+ Antenne with a 3 m cable, SMB plug, and 5 V power feed. It sticks neatly to the glass and delivers peak performance without drilling. To ensure your antenna mates properly with both FM and DAB+, grab an Autoradio Antennenadapter. This component converts legacy plugs into a unified connection for dual-band reception. Cable Routing : Always run antenna cables above A-pillar trims to avoid airbag zones. : Always run antenna cables above A-pillar trims to avoid airbag zones. Grounding : Some window antennas require a chassis ground; check your installation guidelines. : Some window antennas require a chassis ground; check your installation guidelines. Firmware Updates : Update your head unit's software before pairing the antenna for optimal stability. : Update your head unit's software before pairing the antenna for optimal stability. Professional vs. DIY: While many enthusiasts handle the swap themselves, complex setups (e.g., multifunction roof antennas) are best left to specialists. Absolutely. The combination of crystal-clear audio, station variety, and future-proof technology makes DAB+ the superior choice. With straightforward solutions—like a plug-and-play head unit, a Autoradio Adapter, a Autoradio Antennenadapter, and a dedicated DAB+ Antenne—you can transform an older car into a modern listening environment. Don't wait for FM to fade away; upgrade today and enjoy the digital radio revolution. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
