Number of Meghalaya students in central institutions optimum: CM

Shillong: The maximum number of students from the indigenous communities in Meghalaya are enrolled in various Centre-run educational institutions in the state as mentioned in the guidelines on reservation of 7.5% for Scheduled Caste candidates, chief minister Conrad K Sangma told the assembly on Friday.
The CM was addressing concerns expressed by the opposition during a short discussion on the issue of protection of the rights of the indigenous people in central institutions.
He said, “At least 81% of students from the indigenous communities of the state are currently studying at the Shillong-based North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU). Meanwhile, the indigenous students occupy 50% of the seats at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Shillong and out of the 668 seats in the National Institute of Technology (NIT), 208 currently are local students.”
“The Institute of Hotel Management has 13 additional seats for students of Meghalaya. Of the 160 seats, 57 were from the state, which was 37%,” Sangma said. “The North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) in Shillong has earmarked 14 seats of the 50 for the MBBS course for local students.”
On recruitment of indigenous candidates in central institutions in the state, the CM added that central guidelines were being followed even as the state has been pursuing with the Centre to incorporate the state reservation policy, particularly in the Group-C sector.
Stating that the state government would push for education and employment opportunities for local youth in the various central institutions, he said such institutions enhanced the image of Meghalaya and Shillong as a hub of higher education.
“The Union Minister of Tribal Affairs has hinted that the state reservation policy can be put into practice during recruitment of staff at the Eklavya Model Residential Schools in Meghalaya, which were 100% centrally-funded,” Sangma told the Assembly.
During question hour, education minister Rakkam A Sangma said that at least 38 Eklavya Model Residential Schools were expected to be functional from April 1.
“The central government has invested Rs 1200 crore into the state economy by setting up the Eklavya model schools. This would also enhance the economies of the areas where these schools are set up,” the CM pointed out.