Assam: Medical seats for communities demanding ST status to increase

Assam government has decided to increase the number of medical seats by 12 for communities demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, read here to know more.

The state government is all set to increase the number of reserved seats by two each for the six communities demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in medical education from the academic year 2022-23.

After a cabinet meeting on Friday, Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said, "The six communities include Tea garden tribes, Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Matak, Moran and Chutia. These tribes currently come under the Other Backward Communities (OBC) and have seats reserved in the MBBS," as reported by Financial Express.

The tea garden tribes will now have 26 reserved seats, the Koch Rajbongshis 10, Tai Ahom seven, Chutias six while Matak and Moran will have five each, Baruah said. Three seats will be reserved under the ex-servicemen quota for Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) studies, the statement said.

In the meeting, chaired by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, it was further decided to increase the upper age limit at entry-level posts in medical colleges from 38 to 40 years for the general category, 41 to 43 years for OBC and More Other Backward Class (MOBC) and 43 to 45 years for SC/ST category applicants to motivate PG doctors to offer their services as faculty in the medical colleges.

Other details of the meeting

The meeting also decided to lease land to the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) for setting up an Academic Research and Career Information Centre at Betkuchi village in Kamrup Metro district, Baruah said. It was decided that the state government will release INR 18.02 crore as a loan to Assam Tea Corporation Limited for payment of a bonus to its employees/workers for the ensuing Durga Puja.

Read more:

• Medical colleges in Assam increased under BJP regime: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
• UP to get 6 new medical colleges under PPP model