Our Correspondent
KOHIMA October 21
Though the state government has taken up necessary steps towards establishing a medical college in the state, wherein the foundation stone was laid on March 3, 2014 with great hope and expectation, there is no visible progress even after a lapse of one and half year.
In this regard, the Nagaland Medical Students’ Association today has urged the government and the concerned department to hasten the necessary works and complete the first medical college of the state at the earliest. This appeal was made by NMSA president, Kipito Awomi at the golden jubilee celebration of NMSA today held at ATI Complex, Kohima.
Stating that the proposed medical college is a dream-come-true for the young medicos and practicing doctors, which would also hopefully provide top class medical care centre in the state, however, the president also reminded the leaders that the state is lagging far behind in the medical and patient care system when compared with others states and even in the North East.
Therefore, it has appealed the government to give top priority in completing the college at the earliest and that Naga medical professionals be given the priority when it come to employment.
In his presidential address, Kipito also shared his concern on the allotment of seats to non-Nagas appearing the state entrance exams, whereby it pointed out that the seats allotted to the state by the central government is the only backbone of higher technical education for the Nagas since the state does not have any medical or quality engineering college.
In this regard, it stated that when the seats are given to non-Nagas, it not only deprives many rightful indigenous aspirants of their career, but also pushing the society backwards, when the world is in the race for development.
The association therefore, pointed out that issue of indigenous and domicile certificates by the government should only be done after proper verification to check perpetrators from taking away what is ours. It has also appealed to different levels of governance, NGOs, students’ union and all concerned citizens to understand this impact this will have on our society in the near future.
It has also made an appeal to the government to frame a set of appropriate and standard eligibility criteria for such exams. Citing a recent incident where a non-Naga filed a petition against the state and the students. Hence, it has urged for improvisation of eligibility criteria to avoid such incidents in the future.
NMSA has also asked for creation of more Medical Officers (MO) posts in the state, which it said is not only affecting the doctors but the patients who are deprived of proper medical services in the state.
Comparing the statistics of posts created for medical officers with other neighboring state, the association said it noted a vast difference in the number of seat the state government creates, wherein the state has created only about 100 seats in the past three years. It noted that neighboring states like Manipur and Meghalaya created more than twice the number, wherein in the year 2014 alone, Manipur has created 384 new MO posts along with 195 vacancies.
Hence, it has urged the government to understand the need of the people of the state by creating more MO posts in the state, so that the common people are not deprived of their right to quality and proper medical services.
The Association expressed hope that the government and the concerned department would understand the needs of the medical fraternity as well as the people of the people and do the needful at the earliest.
