Govt submits draft proposal to striking medicos

New Delhi, May 28: Reiterating its commitment to expansion of medical educational facilities, the Government today, in a draft proposal to the striking medicos, assured that available seats in medical institutions under it will not be reduced and that it will examine their demand for constituting a review commission on the quota policy.

Minister of State without portfolio Oscar Fernandes, who held separate meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the striking medicos, said the Government had already set up an Oversight Committee for recommendations on implementation of reservation policy.

''The Committee would make specific recommendations for expanding facilities and enhancing opportunities for higher education, including medical education,'' the minister told reporters after the draft was collected by the representatives of the medicos. He said an Expert Group comprising Directors, Deans and Principals medical colleges would also give specific suggestions on expanding facilities in the medical institutions.

''Medical students are welcome to give their views and suggestion to the expert group,'' Mr Fernandes said.

After meeting Mr Fernandes, Maulana Azad Medical College RDA member Neha Gami said they will study the draft proposal at the Youth For Equality General Body Meeting and then take a decision.

Several rounds of talks between the Government and the medicos have failed to break the stalemate over the OBC reservation as the students and doctors have been demanding a ''written assurance'' by the Prime Minister on the issues raised by them.

The striking medicos again submitted a charter of demands to the Prime Minister which comprised setting up of a non-political judicial committee to review the existing reservation policy, number of general category seats not to be disturbed, a white paper on reservation, exclusion of ''OBC creamy layer from reservation'', quota for economically backward and no action against the striking doctors and students.

Mr Fernandes, who embarks on a foreign tour tomorrow, said there would be no staggered implementation of 27 per quota for OBC in the higher educational institutions, and it will commence from June 2007 academic session. ''The period up to June 2007 will be utilised for developing and creating the necessary infrastructure and other facilities corresponding with the overall increase in the number of seats,'' he explained.

''Such a move would ensure that there will no reduction in the total seats for the general category students,'' he added.

Asked how the Government would strengthen the infrastructure the elite institutions in a years time, the Minister said several measures, including relaxation in the age of retirement of faculty members, were being considered.

''The implementation of the reservation policy will be under the purview of the Central Government, he said asserting that the OBC quota would not deplete the general category seats.

Conceding a demand of the medicos, Mr Fernandes announced that no action would be taken against the agitating students, interns and resident doctors.

''With regard to the service break, termination, pay deduction and legal notice, no action would be taken against then,'' he added.

UNI