Shillong, Feb 23 (Reporter) Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma informed the Assembly on Friday that maximum number of students from the indigenous communities in Meghalaya are enrolled in the various Central Government educational institutions in the state as per Central guidelines on reservation of 7.5 percent for Scheduled Caste candidates. Sangma was replying to a short duration discussion, on the issue of protection of the rights of the indigenous people in central institutions raised by opposition Voice of People Party (VPP) legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit. Basaiawmoit and other legislators urged the government to ensure that indigenous candidates got preference in central institutions in the state in matters related to admissions and appointments. Providing a break-up, he said that 81 percent students from the indigenous communities of the state are currently studying in the Shillong-based North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), which also has a campus in Tura. Sangma said 50 percent of the seats in the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Shillong were occupied by indigenous students, while out of the 668 seats in the National Institute of Technology (NIT), 208 currently have local students. “The Institute of Hotel Management has 13 additional seats for students of Meghalaya,” he said, adding that of the 160 seats, 57 were from the state, which was 37 percent. “The North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) in Shillong has earmarked 14 seats out of the 50 for the MBBS course for local students,” he further informed. On recruitment of indigenous candidates in central institutions in the state, the Chief Minister said that central guidelines were being followed even as the state has been pursuing with the Centre to incorporate the state reservation policy, particularly in the Group-C sector. Stating that the government would push for education and employment opportunities of local youth in the various central institutions, he said such institutions enhanced the image of Meghalaya in general and Shillong in particular as a hub of higher education. Sangma also informed that the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs has hinted that the state reservation policy can be put into practice during recruitment of staff at the Eklavya Model Residential Schools in Meghalaya, which were 100 percent centrally funded. Earlier, during Question Hour, Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma informed the house that the 38 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) were expected to begin functioning from April 1 this year. He said the delay was due to several reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic and issues regarding free acquirement of land from the communities, which had faced hurdles. Replying to a query raised by opposition VPP member Brightstarwell Marbaniang, the Minister said that the vision of the Government of India was to set up Eklavya model schools in all blocks across the country, which have 50 percent and tribal population. Sangma said that the state government would pursue with the central government to set up such schools in all blocks in Meghalaya. Intervening on the subject, Chief Minister Sangma informed the house that the Central Government has invested Rs 1200 crore into the state economy by setting up the Eklavya model schools...////...