In a major development, the Assam cabinet has decided to reserve seats for students from the tea garden community in the medical colleges of the state. 

This decision was announced by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after chairing the weekly cabinet meeting on Thursday. 

The seats have been decided to be reserved for the tea garden community for MBBS and BDS courses in the medical colleges of Assam. 

“MBBS/BDS seats reserved for tea garden communities (have been) proportionately divided between Brahmaputra Valley and Barak Valley,” Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma informed. 

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A total of 24 MBBS seats and 3 BDS seats have been decided to be reserved for tea garden community in Assam. 

While, a total of 18 MBBS seats have been reserved for tea garden community from the Brahmaputra valley, another 6 have been reserved for Barak Valley. 

On the other hand, out of the 3 BDS seats that have been reserved for tea garden community, 2 are for the Brahmaputra Valley, while one will be for the Barak Valley. 

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Other key decision taken during the cabinet meeting: 

Periodic Patta in rural areas: 

  1. Approval to conversion of Allotment Certificate to Periodic Patta in rural areas within 3 years of allotment. 
  2. Cases of conversion that haven’t completed the mandate period of year for receiving periodic patta to be included under Mission Basundhara, subject to the condition that the land allotted hasn’t been transferred and used only for the purpose it was allotted for. 
  3. This relaxation period for conversion from Allotment Certificate to Periodic Patta shall apply to Mission Basundhara period only. 

Simplifying land transfer: 

  1. DCs of Kamrup (M) and Kamrup to grant permission for transfer of land in Protected Belts/Blocks without prior approval of the Govt. 
  2. Para 17.5 of Land Policy, 2019 to be removed for greater public interest and expeditious disposal of land transfer permission proposals in Protected Belts/Blocks in Kamrup (M) and Kamrup. 

Assistance to Priests & Namghorias: 

  1. One-time grant of 15,000 to Priests and Namghorias. Online portal to be opened for registration, whose details to be advertised later. 

Food security for migrant workers: 

  1. Approval to Assam Migrant Workers’ Food Security Scheme to provide dry ration to COVID-affected migrant workers. 
  2. District administrations to distribute dry ration based on data of migrant workers available on e-SHRAM Portal and other available resources. 

Safeguarding Industrial Employees &Employers: 

  1. Assam Industrial Relations Rules, 2021 approved in order to safeguard rights of employers and employees, pave the way for industrial progress and ensure industrial peace and harmony. 

EWS Certificate: 

  1. Candidates who couldn’t produce EWS certificate at the time of application to be allowed to submit claim anytime till first round of MBBS/BDS counselling when their candidature will be finalized. Similar facility extended to candidates in other reserved categories.