Shortly after its orders hiking the MBBS fees at state medical colleges, the Gujarat government rolled back an appreciable decision. Hence, this was the big relief for students who wanted to become doctors and their families, since high fees might have stopped at least some of them from pursuing their dreams of becoming doctors.

The first decision to enhance the fees of MBBS attracted severe criticism and protests from the student community, parents, and several stakeholder groups in the medical education sector. There is an uproar over the proposed hike in fees because it will ensure that financial barriers are created in the accessibility of medical education to students from economically weak backgrounds.

The Gujarat government, under attack from both the erudite academic fraternity and the commoner, took an admirable initiative to revise their decision. It not only reflects their concern regarding the citizens’ needs and aspirations but also their commitment toward rendering equal opportunities to all.

The enhanced fee rollback is not only a relief to students and their families but also acts to reassure the very purpose for which the commitment of the state government toward promoting merit-based, inclusiveness-oriented education is there. That itself is a very strong, positive signal in spirit and letter to the whole fraternity of educational institutions—one could now be assured that their voices might be heard and taken due care of while framing any policies in the best interests of students and society at large.

The reversal of the fee increase underlines how relevant the stakeholder engagement and consultations with the government in decision-making really are. It, therefore, emerges as a pointer to how so much could be achieved by collective voices in policymaking that really shapes the future of our society.

This will also set a very encouraging precedent for other states and institutions across the country to have a relook at the fee structure in such a way that it makes higher education accessible to all meritorious candidates without considerations of their financial background.

The Gujarat government’s decision to roll back the fee hike is, thus, instant relief and will pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable system. With access to quality education, therefore, now assured, only talent and dedication can blossom to the betterment of society as a whole.

While we celebrate this milestone, the student activism it took and public outcry is a quite important note in how collective action can influence policy decisions. It’s a call to remember that our voices matter, and when put together, we can make a change.

This was thus one of the major victories of the students and their families through the latter’s decision to roll back the MBBS fees increased in medical colleges. It is also a pointer toward sensitivity toward education by the Gujarat government—making it accessible and affordable—and exemplary administration: sensitive and responsible. It will thus be a decision that certainly will live beyond generations of aspiring doctors whose ambition to pursue their educational objectives now goes much further than being simply overwhelmed with unnecessary financial stress.