Govt Students to have 7.5 percent quota in MBBS, BDS, AYUSH courses: TN clears bill

Chennai - In a major decision, the Tamil Nadu Assembly has unanimously passed the Bill providing 7.5 per cent quota within the existing reservation in MBBS, BDS, AYUSH courses for government school students. It will be applicable for students clearing the NEET exam.

The Bill, moved by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, was passed unanimously by vote. The reservation would be available for undergraduate programmes in medicine, dentistry, Indian medicine and homeopathy but it would not apply to seats reserved for all India quota.

The move will benefit over 300 poor students annually and will be implemented from this year onwards. Piloting the bill, Chief minister K Palaniswami said the AIADMK government took a policy decision to implement this horizontal reservation based on the recommendation of a commission headed by retired high court judge P Kalaiyarasan. "The Cabinet gave its approval at the meetings held on June 15 and July 14, respectively and accordingly the Bill has been brought," Palaniswmi said, adding, the move would help many rural and poor students realise their dreams of becoming a doctor.

The "quota within quota" covers government seats in private colleges also.

The Bill seeks to replace the Ordinance promulgated by the government. It may be recalled that the State Cabinet had on June 15 approved an ordinance, envisaging 7.5 per cent horizontal reservation in the State government's quota of MBBS/BDS seats, for students of government schools

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the state cabinet had given its nod to the provision of a 7.5 per cent quota within the existing reservation in MBBS courses for the students of state government higher secondary schools.

The Cabinet decision was based on a recommendation made by a panel, headed by former Madras High court Judge P Kalaiyarasan. The panel's report was submitted to the Chief Minister based on which the Cabinet took a decision last week. The committee had observed that there was a "cognitive gap" among students studying in government schools. The committee suggested that students who had passed the higher secondary exam after having studied for seven consecutive years in government schools be provided the reservation, reports UNI.

"Students who studied in government schools shall also be entitled to compete for the government seats, other than those set apart on preferential basis, along with those who studied in private schools," said a provision in the legislation, quotes PTI.

Those students, who studied from Class VI to Higher Secondary in government schools, including those run by local bodies, and have qualified the NEET, would benefit from the legislation. In its report, the commission has observed that students of the government schools were placed at a disadvantageous position compared to their counterparts in private schools owing to various reasons. These include "cognitive gap created by socio-economic factors such as caste, wealth, parental occupation, parental education and gender and these psychological and socio- economic barriers cannot be bridged by a few months of intensive coaching for NEET, even if provided for free," it said.