statesman news service
KOLKATA, 7 JUNE: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today urged the "future doctors" not to leave the state after attaining their degrees as there is a dearth of medical practitioners in the state. 
Addressing a programme to felicitate the toppers of Madhyamik and Higher Secondary examinations at Town Hall, Miss Banerjee said, "Don’t leave the state after you become doctors. I want to depute more doctors in hospitals but I have failed as there is an acute shortage of good doctors. If you render service in villages for one year, we will facilitate your higher studies, I promise you."
For those who did not want to become doctors, Miss Banerjee had the same plea: stay back and look after the needs of the state. "Eighty per cent candidates told me that they want to be doctors. The rest will study Chemistry Honours and will probably go on to pursue research. Many will go outside West Bengal pursue higher studies. Take care of yourself wherever you are and whatever you do. But don’t forget the state and come to us whenever you face any problem," the chief minister told the students at the programme, where 38 Madhyamik toppers and 37 Higher Secondary toppers were felicitated. They received a laptop and four books each from education minister Mr Bratya Basu. Miss Banerjee handed over flower bouquets to every one and spoke to them about their future plans.
The chief minister&’s ‘stay back’ plea comes at a time when students are increasingly interested in leaving the state to pursue higher studies.
"No one wants to become a policeman. No one is interested in becoming an IAS either," she noted while speaking at the programme. Turning to Mr Arnab Roy, principal secretary of the school education department, she said, "It seems you people are not being able to attract students to your profession. Anyway, we will soon come up with a training institute for IAS."
Miss Banerjee also had words of advice for students. "Never give in to depression. Life is never a cakewalk. You will have to face hard times. Learn to take everything sportingly," she said.  Extending a helping hand to all toppers, Miss Banerjee said, "If there are any obstacles in your higher studies, please come to us. The officials of our school education department will write down your names and contact numbers and will help you." Later, eight students sought financial help from the government, said an official of the department.
Among them was Payel Khara, a second year student of Harimohon Ghose College. She sought Miss Banerjee&’s help  as she has been suffering from progressive myopathy, and was assured help. Miss Banerjee also indulged overenthusiastic parents who sought her autograph. 
Meanwhile, the state, which has been accused of faring poorly in UPSC examinations will get a government-run IAS training centre. "It will be in the campus of Bidhannagar Government College. As the chief minister has given her nod to the proposal, we will now proceed further. The idea is to produce more IAS for our state," said education minister Mr Bratya Basu.