Angry students seek answers from govt

SHILLONG: The 10 medical students who are uncertain about the state government’s next move have sought “concrete answers” on the imbroglio.
Angry at the apathy of the state government, the students said at a press conference they were assured by the officials of the Health Department that they would get seats. “Attempts to reach the Health Minister were also in vain,” they added.
Iaisanbha Khyllep, who was supposed to get admission in Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh, said, “The officials from the state assured us that everything would be fine and asked us to go to Dibrugarh. But the acting principal directly told us that there were no seats reserved for Meghalaya.”
The students had camped in Guwahati for many days after the declaration of the results on August 23 but found to their dismay that their seats were abolished to make way for OBC candidates.
The two states had signed an agreement in 1976 according to which the Assam Government was to reserve 10 seats for Meghalaya.
Khyllep said the state’s assurances were false because Assam made it clear that “there are no more seats reserved for Meghalaya”.
“On July 3, the Assam government increased the OBC seats and abolished our seats. Even general candidates were affected,” he added.
The aspirants met the under secretary on Monday who told them that he was not aware and asked them to meet other top officials.
In the evening, they went to meet Chief Secretary Y. Tsering and Additional Chief Secretary PW Ingty who informed that the state would file a case against the Assam government. Khyllep supported the move to file a case in the Supreme Court but sought to know about the government’s contingency plan in case it loses the case. “They (Tsering and Ingty) could not assure us anything as they said the state government has done its bid.”
As the last date for admission gets closer, the students will submit a petition to state officials requesting early resolution of the problem. “We hope to get an answer tomorrow (on Tuesday) and we need to get a concrete answer,” Khyllep said.
The aspirants were also confused as to whether they were allotted seats from those reserved for the state or from the North Eastern Council.
Jeremaiah D. Sangma, another medical aspirant, said, “I think the main problem is lack of communication between the two governments. It is quite surprising that these two are neighbours.”
“We are angry at the state government as it told us to go ahead. It is giving us false hope and assurances but are not doing anything,” Khyllep said.
Kanishtha Hajong, another affected student who was supposed to get a seat in Silchar Medical College, said, “We need an answer as our lives are hanging in balance. We want the government to give us a concrete answer on what our lives are going to become in the future.”
Medical aspirants Natasha Boro and Evergreen Khongjoh said that their parents have “contributed immensely” for them to get into medical colleges.