Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has mounted a fierce offensive against the Meghalaya Government and the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), accusing them of blocking the district’s own path to progress and undermining equitable distribution of central assistance for medical education. Raising alarm over what he described as a monumental policy failure, Dr Sangma said the establishment of PA Sangma Medical College in Ri Bhoi by USTM has effectively deprived the district of the opportunity to host the next centrally-assisted government medical college. He argued that the state’s myopic handling of the issue has sabotaged Meghalaya’s prospects of securing more government-funded institutions, while other states like Assam and West Bengal have leveraged the same central funding to multiply their medical colleges.
Talking to media persons, Dr Sangma said, “I had suggested that after Tura Medical College, next Medical College which would be established with the assistance of Government of India shall be in Ri Bhoi. However, Ri Bhoi District is no more eligible because of a private Medical College that is PA Sangma Medical College already coming up courtesy USTM. You have blocked your own way. Before USTM, we should have asked Government of India to provide that kind of assistance in other districts where we are yet to have Medical College. Now Ri Bhoi district is deprived of that assistance because USTM Medical College, other eligible district is now Jaintia Hills.”
Reaffirming his vision for balanced regional development, Dr Sangma stressed, “Establishment of Medical College has always been a dream close to my heart, I myself being a medical professional I have always maintained that we should have medical Colleges not medical College alone. That why when we started the Tura Medical College, I actually tried to prevail upon Government of India to have two Medical Colleges because it is always good if you have one in Khasi Hills, you have one in Garo Hills it’s like if you have one in the Eastern part, you have another in the Western part. So we always tried to work on this model, so that you are able to progress together. That is the reason why we try to prevail upon Government of India, but government of India said you first go ahead with the Tura Medical college, come next, so next would have been Ri Bhoi. I suggested after Tura Medical College, next Medical College which would be established with the assistance of Government of India shall be in Ri Bhoi. I discussed it with my colleagues, we were all agreeable to this proposal but what happened now we have delayed too long, other than Tura Government Medical College we should have additional Medical Colleges like other states are doing. You look at how many medical Colleges Assam has landed up establishing with the same fund which is coming from Government of India, similarly you see West Bengal batch after batch same assistance from centre to the states for the establishment of Medical College with your civil hospital or government hospitals as attached teaching hospital for the medical College. We should have, actually in addition to Tura, we should have got some more sanction but we have not we have failed because of the incumbent Government.”
Pointing to the consequences of the USTM project, he remarked, “You look at the Ri Bhoi, is Ri Bhoi eligible for the establishment of Medical College now? No more. Because you have a private Medical College that is PA Sangma Medical College already coming up courtesy USTM. You have blocked your own way. Before USTM, we should have asked Government of India to provide that kind of assistance in other districts where we are yet to have Medical College. Now Ri Bhoi district is deprived of that assistance because USTM Medical College, other eligible district is now Jaintia Hills, I am sure the government should pursue it with the Government of India but at the same time resolve the issue of Tura Government Medical College.”
On Shillong Medical College, Dr Sangma said while it was an achievement, the government must ensure clarity and compliance with all required criteria to avoid unpleasant surprises for students. “In as per as the Shillong Medical College is concern, it is definitely an achievement but the government must do it properly so that there is no element of surprises that should await the students. There should be complete clarity on all the fulfillment of criteria,” he asserted.
