The state of Mizoram will be opening its first Medical College in August this year. The College will accommodate 100 students of which 85 seats will be reserved for Mizo students. Note that Mizoram’s first Medical College will be headed by Dr L Fimate who has previously served as the Director in RIMS for nearly six years and was head of the Forensic sciences in RIMS and J.N. Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal.
The Medical Council of India has permitted the setting up the college. This Medical College was personally initiated by Chief Minister , Lal Thanhawla keeping in mind the rising number of medical aspirants in the state. In comparison, Meghalaya’s proposed medical colleges have run into controversy from day one. The firm with which the state government wants to tie up in a private-public partnership (PPP) mode is allegedly tainted and has evaded income tax payments. The question remains as to why Meghalaya invariably ends up doing deals with dubious firms. Why are the best firms unwilling to invest in the state? The answers are not far to seek. Most companies today do not want to be bogged down by the licence-permit raj which still operates in Meghalaya despite the liberalisation era of 1991. The single window concept for speedy clearing of all investment proposals is headed by the Chief Minister and it is obvious that no project is allowed entry without deal making.
Instead of concentrating on setting up one medical college and getting it up and going, the Mukul Sangma Government decided to set up two – one in Garo Hills and another in Khasi Hills. None of them has taken off as a result. When the state is divided by regional loyalties and the need to appease different groups for the purpose of vote banks, nothing can be achieved. A Medical College has to be a viable enterprise and must maintain certain standards apart from getting the right faculty. Even the North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute for Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGHRIMS) located in Shillong finds is struggling to recruit and retain faculty. All these should have been given thought to before announcing and implementing ambitious projects. Moreover, a medical institute is a progressing institution and should have been located outside Shillong city where the scope for expansion is possible. Why have the College at the TB Hospital? All these decisions make us wonder at the logic of it all and reasons that prompt such decisions? Are they in public or private interests?