Ampareen says rules disallow land for doctors from outside

SHILLONG, June 13: The state government has virtually ruled out the possibility of making concessions for medical professionals from outside the state to buy land in Meghalaya, even if it means losing them.
Many doctors from other states have left Meghalaya citing their inability to buy land due to a stringent land transfer act and settle down. They said that possessing land would have given them a sense of security while serving the state longer.
“I understand that security is a major concern for doctors venturing into areas inhabited by orthodox communities like ours. Each state has its set of rules and the local communities, who adhere to age-old practices, will take time to understand the value of permanency,” Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said.
She said medical professionals who intend to handhold an underdeveloped state like Meghalaya should be committed to fulfilling the obligations they swear by.
“I can say doctors enjoy recognition and reverence in my state although there are certain concerns,” she said.