Puducherry Govt To Bear Tuition Fees Of Medical Students From State-Run Schools

Puducherry CM Rangasamy said that students who completed their schooling in government schools and cleared NEET can avail the benefits of the scheme. 

In early September, the Centre approved the Puducherry government's request to implement the horizontal quota. 

Puducherry CM Rangasamy announced that the union territory will bear the full tuition cost payable by students who enter undergraduate medical courses from government schools during the current academic year. According to PTI, CM Rangasamy said that the students who completed their schooling in government schools and cleared NEET can avail the benefits of the scheme. 

Further, the CM said that his government will inform the colleges not to demand fees from students of government schools since they will bear the cost. The students joining professional courses in the Union territory are selected through the Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC).

In early September, the Centre approved the Puducherry government's request to implement the horizontal quota for state-run school students. 

A Anbalagan, the convenor of the AIADMK in Puducherry, told the media that his party has been insisting the government implement a 10% reservation in medical education for students attending government schools.

He expressed gratitude to Rangasamy for introducing the quota.

Earlier, Puducherry Lt Governor Tamilisai said that she forwarded the file to the Centre related to CM N Rangasamy's proposal to provide 10 per cent reservation in medical admission for students studying in government schools.

She said, "The territorial administration has sought Union Home Ministry's approval for its plan to implement a 10% horizontal reservation in UG MBBS programs for the current academic year."

Soundararajan recalled how the previous Congress government proposed a 10 percent reservation for government school students but the Lt Governor did not concur with it. Later, the proposal was sent to the Home Ministry for approval but it was not approved for 'certain reasons'.

While several parties have been opposing NEET across India, Tamilisai pitched for NEET-based admission for medical courses in the country. 

She also urged political parties to not mislead students about NEET.