Shillong, Oct 24: The Meghalaya Cabinet met in Resubelpara, North Garo Hills, and approved a series of ordinances aimed at improving medical education and teacher recruitment in the state. A significant measure is the Meghalaya Private Medical Institution (Regulation of Admission, Fixation of Fees, and Reservation) Ordinance, 2024, which will facilitate student enrollment at the PA Sangma International Medical College, affiliated with the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya.

The ordinance will come into effect after receiving the Governor’s approval and will establish a regulatory body tasked with overseeing fee structures, implementing reservation policies, and managing seat allocations according to government guidelines and court rulings. The PA Sangma Medical College, named after the former Lok Sabha Speaker, is anticipated to begin operations shortly after the ordinance is enacted.

Additionally, the Cabinet raised the upper age limit for serving SSA teachers to 45 years, allowing them to compete in state recruitment examinations for various educational roles. This adjustment is designed to strengthen the teaching workforce in Meghalaya.

The Cabinet also approved a loan from the Asian Development Bank for the “Support Human Capital Development in Meghalaya – Phase II” project, with 90% of the loan amount allocated as a grant to the state.

Furthermore, new regulations for rental housing and the allotment of government quarters were introduced, empowering the housing department to manage state assets and evaluate infrastructure needs effectively.