Mukesh Mallik

News regarding imaging Technology alias radiography is frequently being printed these days and same has become viral in social websites as well. May be the cause is election of Nepal radiological society that is going to be held this month. Most of the articles and comments reflect right and quality of workers which make one feel that representatives are trying to fish in troubled water.  All the articles invariably arise questions on quality of radiographic professionals particularly and more often on the professionals who achieved their degree in Indian university.

Everyone speaks of pay scale, radiation allowance, government job and so on. But are these factors really major issues? I think that dignity, professional respect and professional discipline are the major issues and aforesaid agenda are the minor. If we would be able achieve later issues, former can automatically be acquired provided discrimination should be decreased.

The products graduating from valley have misleadingly conflated unemployment with products graduating out of Nepal. But don’t expect luminaries from IOM to clear up such misconceptions.

Facts disprove this belief. The reasons why Products from all around the world should be welcomed and explanations why the products from particular institution should shut up must be brought into light.

Some of the upcoming candidate for the post of chairman in Nepal radiological society made a comment that foreign products better clarify “Indian products” in imaging technology is feeble leading to underemployment in Nepal. Some of the aspirants remarked that product from distance education are inferior and ample in number that may drag the profession towards unemployment. These inferences have been drawn by naïve worker and novice students who merely knows radiography. Universities have to abide by rules and can start program only after meeting standard criteria. How can someone point fingers on the products from different universities having worldwide recognition? Some of those products are now working in reputed institutions like AIIMS (India) and some are pursuing their further education in USA and Europe. Many of these products with distance learning graduate degree is also working for Nepal Government as Radiographic Technician (level 5) . These evidences prove that products are well qualified and recognized. Questioning the quality of these university products is something like a frog that can’t differentiate pond and sea.

Some of the professionals entered in radiography as PCL students in IOM and still continuing there even after graduation and post graduation though they were always under-employed.  First Passed out batch of M.Sc. MIT of IOM could not get placement in their own mother institute. They could never be bold enough to ask for their right. In this scenario, is it fair to expect others to resign from their job for acquiring post graduate degree?

Isn’t it true that all products from IOM belong to one community?  I am not trying to blame any one particular university but why are so called Indian products (another community) silent on this? Presumably they are victimized my syndicate in Valley.  Most of the undergraduate and almost all the post graduate students of Imaging Technology of IOM have their job in one or other hospital in Kathmandu. Do these students impair the quality of field? Definitely not. Then how can a product of distance learning who continue their job and pursue his/her degree fulfilling all the criteria of university worsen the field? Why they are not accepted though they have been presenting performance up to the par? Simply  because they deter dominance of community of IOM. At one side they themselves can’t stand against this evil system on the other side they put on allegations on others and boast to reform the system which they have made at their own. Native products themselves do not follow the system of  work divisions as per the degree made by NHPC and they don’t have caliber either to avert the situation of underemployment .In such circumstances,  I believe they don’t have right as well to reject product from Dehradun, Banglore, Norway or any place out of Nepal simply retorting that these professional blemish the area of radiography.

I cannot remember the number of times I have heard that “all Indian products are not under-qualified but all under-qualified technologist are indian product.” Is it so? No they are not. After a long experience in the profession and after the analysis of facts and figure, one must have to accept that they are as good as product of Nepal. I strongly deny this belief despite being a product of BPKIHS, Nepal.

How can a degree conferred by recognized university be questioned by a particular individual simply because one is enjoying power and honored being senior in age and experience.

The number of increasing products or the mode of study or the country of education does not hurt the profession. It’s an individual selfishness, desire to rule and tendency to abuse chair which cripple the field of radiography. Mass in capital has neatly conflated non-Nepalese product with under-qualified professionals. These activities only lead to brain drain but not to any appreciable result. These statements and activities should be condemned and democracy should be introduced in the field of imaging technology by embracing every component of this field.

Professionals in the field of radiography need to widen their domain and form a wise way out to nullify these disputes of equality. System of licensing examination should be formed and Irrespective of universities, mode and country of education, all the candidate should be allowed to face the exam. Professionals with caliber should not be deprived of right simply because they do not belong to community of IOM. Criteria should be made by discussion to bring every worker in main stream and of course participation of everyone is required with transparency in discussion.

I believe, the newly elected chairman and the professors of Imaging Technology will do right thing on this. I am not going to lodge protest but the sufferers are naturally outraged as the remarks revealed casual racism of educational institution.

Let nature select the strongest according to Darwin’s theory “survival of the fittest.”

(Lecturer & Co-ordinator of B.Sc.MIT, Chitwan Medical College.)