PUDUCHERRY: As was the case in the previous two years, seven self-financing medical colleges in the Union Territory on Wednesday surrendered 265 seats to CENTAC out of a total of 900 seats in the institutions.
This was decided at the first round of seat- sharing talks between the government and the representatives of the seven self-financing colleges in the Union Territory. The meeting was chaired by chief minister N Rangasamy on Wednesday.
The four deemed medical colleges surrendered 122 seats, while the other three colleges under Pondicherry university surrendered 143 seats.
Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute surrendered 36 seats (150), Sri Lakshminaraya Medical College -36 (150 ), Arupadai Veedu Medical College -25(100), Vinayaga Mission Medical College -25 (100), Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences - 36(100), Sri Manakula Vinayaga Medical College and Hospital - 54(150)and Venkateswara Medical college -53 (150), the chief minister said in a release.
This is 29.44 per cent of the total of 900 seats. The deemed institutions have surrendered 24.4 per cent seats, while the other three college have offered 35.75 per cent This is one seat more than previous year’s 264, where deemed institutions surrendered 122 seats, but other three colleges offered 142 seats.
Ever since the government medical college came into existence, the self-financing institutes have been hovering around 265 seats and have refused to offer 50 percent seats for admission through CENTAC, despite the clamour by political parties and activists.
Though the chief minister had insisted on them surrendering 50 per cent seats, the self- financing colleges refused.
They justified their stand by citing the Tamil Nadu scenario where there were around 2900 MBBS seats for seven lakh students.
Despite the fact that only brilliant students enter the citadel of medical studies, 35 per cent of the students failed in first MBBS. They even cited similar scenario in Bihar and Orissa, where only the brightest students found entry into medical studies.
On the other hand, there were 105 seats in the government medical college for the students of Puducherry, if the MCI reconsiders granting approval, after having denied the approval.
The director of the Indira Gandhi college is meeting the MCI chairman in New Delhi tomorrow to clarify the situation of faculty and now there was no shortage after the appointments.