medical colleges to implement reservation for OBC: Ramadoss

New Delhi, Apr 8 (UNI) Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss today said that all the medical colleges of the central government would implement the 27 percent reservation for OBCs in all the central government medical, dental and technical colleges either from this year or positively from 2007.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of the National Immunisation Day by the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Dr Ramadoss said that the reservation after approval from the Union Cabinet would come into effect. It may happen from this academic session but in case the admission procedure already started it would be implemented from next year positively.

''The decision has already been taken, Parliament has given commitment and once the cabinet ratify the decision, it will be implemented,'' Dr Ramadoss said and added that all the political parties have approved the decision by consensus.

About why the decision was announced when the election process was going on in some states due to which the Election Commission has issued notice to the government, he said ''We will take it up with the Election Commission.'' Asked about the students protest against the government decision, he said that some vested interests are creating confusion about the issue. Unwanted emotions are being flared and media is playing into their hands. ''We will like to dissuade them from creating unwanted flaring of emotion on this issue.'' However, he said that seats in the Central government medical institutions could be increased in view of the new reservation poliices. But it will take some time.

The reservation would be made in all medical courses including post graduate courses such as MD and MS in institutions like All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry, Lady Hardinge, Delhi. In these institutions the total reservation would now be 49.5 per cent--22.5 per cent for SC/ ST and 27 percent for OBC.

Asked whether about 130 government medical colleges across the country would come under its purview, Dr Ramadoss said that these institutions come under state governments and the reservation would be effective only in the Central government institutions. UNI AJ ARB BS1916