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NAME OF THE INSTITUTE
Sadguru Netra Chikitsalaya (SNC), Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh
(A legendary high-volume charitable institution and one of India’s largest eye care providers.)
STIPEND & DEPOSITS
- Monthly Remuneration: Competitive (Historically ₹50k–₹80k scaling by year; 2026 update includes a consultant-grade salary for the final year).
- Caution Deposit: 1st month’s salary + ₹3,000 per month deducted until the end of the fellowship.
- The “Grace Period”: Fellows have the first month to decide if they want to continue. Leaving within the first month incurs no penalty.
- Penalty: Leaving anytime after the first month incurs a fine of ₹2,00,000.
DURATION
36 Months (3 Years)
(Modified in 2026: 2 Years Fellowship + 1 Year Mandatory Consultancy)
HONEST REVIEW
- Selection & Intake: On a “need basis,” ranging from 2 to 8 fellows per session. Selection involves a formal written exam followed by an interview.
- Surgical Hands-on (Cornea):
- Early Entry: Unlike other departments, Cornea surgeries start from the first year.
- Progression: Training begins with Pterygium and lid tear repairs, moving quickly to TPKs (Therapeutic Penetrating Keratoplasty).
- Advanced Skills: While most of the focus is on PKs and ocular surface, fellows may get to perform 1–2 Lamellar Keratoplasties (DALK/DSEK) toward the end, depending on their demonstrated skill.
- Surgical Hands-on (Cataract):
- Volume: Massive. A Cornea fellow typically graduates with 350–550 Phaco cases.
- Timeline: Phaco training officially starts at the 1.5-year mark.
- Complexity: You are trained to handle “Chitrakoot-grade” cataracts—small pupils, PXF, and mature lenses, including anterior vitrectomy for complications.
- Note: Unlike the IOL track, Cornea fellows typically do not get hands-on for Iris Claw lenses.
- Clinical Exposure: Exceptional. The sheer volume of the “Sadguru” system means you see every textbook corneal pathology—from rare dystrophies to severe fungal keratitis—multiple times a day.
- Work Culture & Schedule:
- Daily Grind: Very early starts. Rounds begin at 7:30 AM four days a week; the other two days have classes at the same time.
- Seasonal Intensity: Winters (Camp Season) are extremely hectic with sunrise-to-sunset OT lists.
- Duties: Night calls are shared with DNB residents. In practice, fellows are rarely called for emergencies unless the case is highly complex. There are no peripheral postings.
PERSONAL OPINION
SNC Chitrakoot is a “Surgical Marathon.” It is one of the few places where you can master high-volume Phaco while simultaneously becoming a proficient Keratoplasty surgeon. The “2+1” model is a commitment, but it ensures you transition from a trainee to a confident consultant within the same ecosystem. If you are prepared for the rural setting and the 7:30 AM starts, you will exit as one of the most surgically “rugged” cornea specialists in the country.
