Shillong, Aug 13: Whether Tura Medical College remains fully in state hands or functions according to a public-private partnership (PPP) model is crucial to the future of Meghalaya, the opposition Trinamool Congress (TMC) said today.
Richard M Marak acknowledged Tura MP Saleng Sangma’s passionate plea to convert the Tura Medical College into an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). However, he emphasized that this proposal, although well-intentioned, is fundamentally flawed. Marak warned that converting the college to an AIIMS would result in surrendering local autonomy and diluting reservation policies.
“It is a fundamental truth that an institution managed by a distant central bureaucracy will prioritize national policies over our specific state needs,” Marak said. “We cannot afford to give up control of such a vital institution, as it would risk sidelining our local youth and our unique healthcare challenges.”
Marak also criticized the current government’s plan for a PPP model, stating that it would hand over an institution built with public funds to a private entity for profit. He argued that this would set a dangerous precedent for future public projects and risk making healthcare and medical education unaffordable.
Instead, Marak advocated for the establishment of a fully government-owned and government-operated Tura Medical College. He emphasized that this is not a matter of party politics but a commitment to the state’s future.
“A state-run college guarantees that every job and every student seat is protected by fair policies, ensuring that our youth can build their careers and serve their communities without facing the pressures of privatization or the loss of local control,” Marak said.
Marak urged the state government to abandon its flawed PPP model and cautioned against the move to convert the college to an AIIMS. He emphasized that the time has come to choose the path of self-reliance and public service.
“Let us build an institution that is truly of, by, and for the people of Meghalaya,” Marak stated.
