Meghalaya CM tells PM to give special incentives to medics

Shillong, Jul. 31 (UNI) Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to provide special incentives so that top medics are attracted to work at the North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute for Medical Sciences (NEIGRIMS). "We need to provide more incentives, which can attract specialists to serve at the health institute,'' Mr Lapang told reporters here yesterday after his arrival from the national capital.

The Chief Minister informed that out of the 760 specialists, who applied for various posts at NEIGRIHMS, 260 turned up for interview and none of them joined the health institute.

He said that he was hopeful that Dr Singh would refer the matter to the Union Health Ministry.

Mr Lapang also informed that he had raised the matter of upgrading the two-airports - Umroi and Baljek with the Prime Minister. He also urged Mr Singh to take up the matter with concerned authorities start the groundwork.

Meanwhile, Mr Lapang also met Defence Minister AK Antony and discussed the need of handing over a portion of defence land in Shillong for construction of a flyover.

The state government was willing either to provide compensation or to give different land in exchange for that plot, he said.

The Chief Minister also urged Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to assist financial assistance towards constructing of a residential complex, including educational institutions, for police personnel in the state.

UNI