The Meghalaya government will invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the long-awaited Shillong Medical College, with the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government expressing hope that the formal inauguration of the state’s first medical college will take place within this year as the first academic session has already commenced.
MDA spokesperson and cabinet minister Wailadmiki Shylla said the establishment of the Shillong Medical College marked a major achievement for Meghalaya and fulfilled a long-standing aspiration of the people of the state to have their own medical institution.
“Yeah, that is true because like aspiration of the people of Meghalaya to have its own Medical College, So is a big achievement and is a big thing for a state. So that’s why we want that for this particular function, we would like the Prime Minister to come and inaugurate it himself,” Shylla said.
He said the Prime Minister had earlier agreed to visit Meghalaya on two separate occasions for the inauguration but could not make it because of unavoidable circumstances.
“No doubt in the past also in two instances, he has given the date but due to unavoidable circumstances he couldn’t come. So this time also, again, like we were waiting for the all the election to get over and now we again, we will approach him for the dates,” he said.
Shylla said the government is now planning to approach the Prime Minister once again after the conclusion of elections and hopes the inauguration can be held at the earliest possible time.
“The date depends on his availability but if it can be done as soon as possible it will better for us because we would like to do it this year itself as you all know the classes already started for the first year. As soon as possible but since we are talking about the prime minister it’s upto him,” he added.
The minister informed that 50 students have been enrolled in the inaugural batch after the state government secured approval from the Medical Council authorities following inspection and assessment procedures.
“In the first year 50 students are enrolled as the state Government has received the permission for 50 because they the Medical Council they come and check accordingly they gave the permission,” he said.
Highlighting the infrastructure expansion plans for the institution, Shylla said the Shillong Medical College is currently functioning as a brownfield project with Civil Hospital forming an integral part of the medical college.
“Actually, there are number of tenders have been called, because since we all know that this is a brown field project, so a lot of infrastructure the needed. But right now, for the first year we are quite okay and we already floated numbers of tenders for the Shillong Medical College. But ultimately we need a big building,” he said.
The minister further said the government has initiated the process for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the expansion of infrastructure facilities and has floated expressions of interest for agencies to prepare the DPR.
“Also, I have chaired a meeting just recently. So We have call for the expression of interest for people who will come and prepare the DPR. So we are already on the process so we will prepare the DPR and get it sanctioned and I met CM specifically for the infrastructure of Shillong Medical college and he also assured me that get the DPR as soon as possible,” he said.
Shylla said the infrastructure development would be carried out in phases considering the scale of the project.
“Maybe we cannot do it in one go but we will do it in a phase manner. Civil hospital is part of the Shillong Medical college,” he added.
Meghalaya Govt to Invite PM Modi For Shillong Medical College Inauguration
