| Monday, July 21, 2008
A new seat-sharing proposal
The proposed formula for medical admission envisages 15 per cent of the seats for the NRI quota and applies the 65-35 formula for the remaining seats.
The tussle between private self-financing colleges and the government over seat-sharing agreements in MBBS admissions shows signs of settling down with Chettinad Medical College and Hospital, Padur, suggesting a different formula.
Private medical colleges are supposed to surrender 65 per cent of their seats for the state government quota, and retain only 35 per cent for the management quota. However, this year, Chettinad Hospitals refused to surrender 65 per cent of seats, armed with an order from the Supreme Court.
Last year, the private medical college flatly refused to give 65 per cent seats to the government quota and went to court. It also went on, later with the help of the court order, to fill all the seats through the management quota.
This year, Chettinad Medical College started with the same stance when the process of medical admissions commenced in the state. Following this, the state government initiated a discussion with private medical colleges to persuade them to hand over the seats. However, the managements of private colleges maintained their stand, using the Supreme Court order to argue their case. Negotiations continued between the state and the private medical colleges.
Meanwhile, Chettinad Medical College has proposed a unique formula, in a letter to the government. They have suggested that of the total 150 seats available with the college, 15 per cent of the seats be set aside for the Non-Resident Indian quota (22). Notably, colleges are allowed to charge higher fees for NRIs.
From the remaining seats —128 — they have promised to set aside 65 per cent for the state quota — 83. The rest — 45 — will be taken up by the management quota.
This reduces from the original seat sharing agreement of 97 seats that the college would otherwise have to share (from the 65-35 formula) with the government. It is reliably learnt that PSG Medical College, Coimbatore, has also proposed a similar arrangement.
As per the 65-35 per cent sharing agreement, PSG will have to allot 65 seats to the government quota.
Going by the existing arrangement, the state will get as many as 348 seats from five self-financing institutions — IRT Perundurai Medical College, PSG Medical College, Chettinad Medical College, Sree Moogambigai Medical College, Kulasekharam, and Melmaruvathur Adiparasakthi Institute of Medical Sciences, Melmaruvathur — if all of them consent to hand over the seats.
Health secretary V.K.Subburaj said the government was examining the proposal, but no decision has been taken as yet.
However, he added that discussions on seat-sharing with the private self financing institutions would continue.
Courtesy: The Hindu - Education Plus
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