THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government and the Inter-Church Council on Wednesday drew up a draft agreement after reaching a consensus over seat-sharing and fee pattern in self-financing medical colleges. A meeting held in this regard between Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Inter-Church Council representatives decided to sign the agreement next week.
The State Government held first round talks with the Inter-Church Council on March 23 in which the latter had agreed to earmark 50 per cent seats in government quota, however, with a uniform fee of Rs 3.75 lakh per year. Fifteen per cent of these seats will be allotted to reserved category candidates. Though an agreement was expected within a week then, the consensus had kicked up a row with the LDF alleging in the Assembly that the government had subverted the merit and management quota through the agreement. Former Education Minister M A Baby had said that the government would have to gather additional funds to meet the expenses of students from the SC/ST communities. Amidst fears that the agreement might be derailed, which was caused partly by the delay in penning the agreement, the talks held on Wednesday cleared the air.
The talks between Kerala Private Medical College Managements Association held on March 30, however, failed to reach a consensus with the managements demanding double fee in their quota. Yet another round of talks will be held soon with the Association to find a solution.