Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem bats for medical college in Ri Bhoi

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 21: Nongpoh MLA, Mayralborn Syiem has opined that Ri-Bhoi district which has been included as an ‘Aspirational District’ by the Central government is eligible to have a medical college.
He told reporters that it would be a benefit for the state to have as many medical colleges, and the proposed medical college can be established in Ri-Bhoi district, being an aspirational district

“We don’t have medical colleges in the state so far, though one medical college will come up at Tura and another in the state capital, Shillong. We shall pursue with the NITI Aayog through the state government so that a medical college in Ri-Bhoi is established with the support of the Central government,” the Nongpoh MLA said.

Syiem is also the Chairman of the Health Advisory Board. Asked about the lack of doctors and teachers who will teach in medical colleges of the state when completed, Syiem admitted that the state has to prepare by sending more people for further studies in the field of medical so that when the medical colleges are ready, they can be engaged without depending much on people from outside.

On shortage of manpower in health services and shortage of medicines in healthcare centres, Syiem said that these concerns have been there, and as the Chairman of Health Advisory Board, he would take up the matter at his level and work together with the Health Minister to address the problems.
He lauded the government for appointing doctors to serve in various hospitals and healthcare centres for the benefit of the people especially in rural health centres.

“The state government has set up a body for indent, supply, maintenance, and disposal of drugs/medicines in the state, and we will try to address the problems,” Syiem said.

The State government has decided to set up the Meghalaya Medical Drugs and Services Limited (MMDSL) to address the problems related to the non-availability of essential drugs/medicines in hospitals and health centres across the state.

SC verdict on pleas for independent mechanism to appoint EC on Thursday

New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) The Supreme Court will deliver judgment on Thursday on a batch of petitions seeking a collegium-like system for the appointment of Election Commissioners (ECs) and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

A constitution bench, headed by Justice K.M. Joseph and comprising Justices Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy, and C.T. Ravikumar had reserved judgment in the matter on November 24, 2022. According to the cause list, two judgments, each by Justices Joseph and Rastogi, will be pronounced at 10.30 a.m. on Thursday in the matter.

During the arguments, Attorney General R. Venkataramani had told the Supreme Court that if it were to begin to doubt every step taken by the government in the process of appointment of the Election Commissioner, then it has implications on the integrity and independenceA of the institution.

The five-judge constitution bench, headed by Justice Joseph, had then shot a volley of questions at the country’s top law officer in connection with the appointment of Election Commissioner Arun Goel. It posed some critical questions to the AG in connection with Goel’s appointment: what deliberation could have been done to finalise his name within 24 hours, same-day clearance, same day process completed, and the appointment was made not even in 24 hours.

The Centre had, however, maintained that there is no trigger point for the Supreme Court to interfere in the appointment process of the Election Commissioner.

After hearing detailed arguments, the Supreme Court reserved the judgment on a batch of petitions seeking a collegium-like system for the appointment of the ECs and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

During the hearing, the Supreme Court had told the Centre that it wants to see the files relating to the recent appointment of Goel as the Election Commissioner and emphasised that it wants to see by what mechanism, “he was picked up”, and “there is no danger to produce it (files)”.