MT Students cheated by MDS Infotech

Gunjan Gupta

Location: MDS Infotech, a division of Lakhotia Computer Center. Class: Medical Transcription. Number of students: Five. Teacher: Once in a while, one.

This is no stage set of any play. This is the present situation at Lakhotia Computer Center's, West Delhi Branch, in Saraswati Vihar, which is in this state for more than four months now, whereas
the complete course duration is six months.

The play began in July 2000. Six batches were already in. Two on the completion stage and three in the middle of their course and one just started. The bright assurance anybody received after docking
in for inquiry about the MT course, were as illustrious and highly acclaimed as, a bright job guarantee with starting salary on the upper side of Rs 7,000, government recognized certificates, fully equipped production center, at least two months training through exclusive live telecasts (which is an integral part of any MT training), international alliances, own placement cell, export and
import license for MT software and highly dedicated staff. The criteria for the placements were that either they will provide a suitable job or else the institute will absorb the student for its own centers.

Now, what was actually discovered after the courses began for new batches was that the classes were taught with the pirated
and stolen CDs, all the previous students were striving for jobs and there was no heed paid to their queries. Authentic placements were provided to four students, who continued also for three months, but then left. The reason, no work without pay, well at least not for three consecutive months, with a single day of 12 working hours. Not to mention, they never got it ever after.

Frequent denials and dropouts from the jobs, finally agitated the students. Some of them had actually quit their previous jobs or shut down their running businesses, to be a part of this upcoming field. But all that they got was agitation, frustration and an unending
crave for the sense of fulfillment.

A subject teacher Arjun Das, who had actually been a MDS student, took the initiative of setting the things right. He revealed all the facts regarding the working of management and the 'authenticity' and 'credibility' institute holds, behind providing the jobs. All
100 plus students went on major strikes and walkouts. Surprisingly, one fine day, Das silently quit.

On second thoughts, a case of fraud,
misrepresentation of facts and cheating was filed in the consumers court by the
students, which never got an end. The file is still lying somewhere in the
courts' office, accumulating dust on its face. A CBI officer was occupied for
looking into the matter. All that he could do was to get the refund for the
students of first two batches, after which he 'got' transferred.

To pacify the agitated students, institute
offered fake 95 to 97 percent accuracy certificates, to the old students. But
when they appeared for an on-the-job-test, on the basis of certificates, none of
them could mange to clear it. Because, authorities could provide the piece of
paper but not the insight and intelligence required for the subject.

The reasons that finally bent the students
to adopt nonchalance was that the first two batches were refunded around 60
percent of their total fees of Rs 25,000. Presently, they have a regular
teacher, who has agreed to help the remaining five students till the end of
their course, of course on goodwill and not for the pay. The authorities came up
with the suggestion, for a replacement, to the student. That is, in case they do
not feel like completing the course, they can advise 'someone else', who can be
adjusted in their fees money.

When contacted, Manoj Goel, one of the
Director of the institute, refused to comment, saying it does not make a
difference of an inch to him, for whatever is written and he just would not like
to make any comment on whatever has happened.

To be noted is that this center of LCC is
an authorized center for IGNOU for their recognized courses like BCA, languages
like Java, C++ etc. The MDS division has now shut down and the handful of
students, five to be precise, are waiting for their course to get over by the
middle of March, after which they do not know, what they will be doing.
Surprisingly, the institute enjoys a good reputation as far as other courses are
concerned. So what went wrong with the MT course, still remains a mystery.