Fate of 43 medical students from Manipur in limbo

The fate of 30 MBBS and 13 BDS students of Manipur hangs in balance now that the government which is sandwiched between two opposing groups of parents has been unable to conduct a selection test or recommend the names of those already selected.

The MBBS and BDS students from north Eastern states except Assam are recommended to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal every year for admission. There are 15 medical seats reserved for the all India category.

Following the supreme court ruling, the Manipur government had selected 30 candidates from among the successful candidates of the national eligibility test. However when there was another ruling it was demanded that there should be a fresh selection test of the MBBS candidates from Manipur.

Now the parents of two groups of prospective candidates are polarised. One group of parents says that the candidates who had been selected already on the basis of the NET results should be recommended for admission, while the other group says that there should be a fresh and separate selection test.

The State Cabinet had deliberated the issue twice. However, no decision was taken. It is not known if a decision will be taken in this regard and when. In the meantime, the classes of MBBS and BDS began from Thursday.

Prof S. Sekharjit, Director of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal told The Hindu that since the academic calender has to be strictly adhered to, the classes had to started on schuedule. He explained that the first MBBS course which was for 18 months has been condensed to one year.

On the first day, the students attended Anatomy classes. Prof N. Dimayanti, head of department of Anatomy said that the students had purchased bones, equipments and necessary books. She felt that if the

Manipur students are not immediately sent they will face irreparable loss. In medical study, the students cannot recoup the classes lost by a few hours' reading in the library.

RIMS, which is under the Union Health Ministry is one of the few institutes which has medical, dental and nursing colleges on the same campus.