SHILLONG, July 12 - Meghalaya Government has sought the Assam Government�s intervention to sort out difficulties that has cropped up in allotment of quota seats for students from the hill State in medical colleges in Assam.
This academic year only two quota seats were made available for students from Meghalaya in medical colleges in Assam. As per the laid norms, ten seats are reserved for students from the State � four in Assam Medical College, four in Gauhati Medical College and two in Silchar Medical College.
The allotment of seats in medical colleges of Assam dates back to an understanding between the two States from the 70s when Meghalaya was carved out of Assam.
Ever since, ten seats were kept reserved for students from Meghalaya, which does not have its own medical college till date, although NEIGRIHMS does provide a platform for students from the State to pursue MBBS course.
Official sources said that a letter has been sent to the Assam Government asking it to allot the requisite number of seats for the Meghalaya students. Health Minister AL Hek has also had a telephonic conversation with his Assam counterpart, Himanta Biswa Sarma.
According to Hek, Sarma has assured that he would be �looking into the matter� and take a decision soon. �We will have to wait for some time and see what the Assam Government decides,� Hek said.
Last year, the same problem had surfaced as Assam reduced the intake of students from Meghalaya in its medical colleges. Meghalaya Government approached the Supreme Court and the status quo was restored.
Asked what would the State Government do if the Assam Government doesn�t give in to its request, Hek said the State Government would have no other alternative but take legal assistance again for redressal.
