The Assam Cabinet has decided to increase the number of reserved seats by two each for the six communities demanding Scheduled Tribe status in medical education from the academic year 2022-23.

The six communities – Tea garden tribes, Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Matak, Moran and Chutia – which are currently under the Other Backward Communities (OBC) have seats reserved for students from these communities in the MBBS, Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said at a media briefing after the cabinet meeting late on Friday night.

The decision was taken in order to provide better opportunities for these communities to pursue medical education. The additional seats will help ensure that more students from these communities will be able to study medicine and go on to become doctors. This is a positive step towards ensuring that all communities have an equal opportunity to pursue medical education and achieve their dreams.

The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, also decided to increase the upper age limit at entry level posts in medical colleges from 38 to 40 years for general category applicants, 41 to 43 years for OBC applicants and More Other Backward Class (MOBC) applicants, and 43 to 45 years for SC/ST category applicants. The decision was made in an effort to motivate PG doctors to offer their services as faculty in the medical colleges.

The cabinet has decided to make the process of laying the City Gas Distribution Pipeline (CGDP) more efficient by allowing the Deputy Commissioners to give permission for right of way within 15 days, instead of the current 30 days, from when a detailed plan is submitted.