Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 27: Five new Medical Colleges sanctioned in the Jammu and Kashmir State by the Union Government for Kathua, Doda, Rajouri, Anantnag and Baramulla will start functioning from the next 2015-16 session.
The land for all these colleges has been acquired and the State Health and Medical Education Ministry is submitting the papers to the Union Health Ministry before August 30. The land acquisition had been delayed for Doda and Rajouri, but that issue has also been resolved with the personal intervention of both the local MLAs, Abdul Majid Wani (Minister for R&B) and MLA Rajouri, Shabir Ahmed Khan.
Talking to the Excelsior, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Taj Mohi-ud-Din said that Nodal Officers for all the colleges have already been appointed by the Government. He said with the setting up of these five Medical Colleges, additional 500 seats of MBBS would increase. And gradually, the problems of doctors, particularly in rural and far flung areas will also be over come. Earlier, mainly two Government Medical Colleges at Srinagar and Jammu were feeding to the State hospitals besides Batra College at Sidhra.
Replying to a question, Mr Taj said, “The proposal is being submitted to Medical Council of India through Union Health Ministry. The funding to the tune of Rs 189 crore for each college, would be made by the Union Health Ministry. The land measuring 160 kanals each as per requirements of MCI has been acquired for all the colleges. We are applying to the Medical Council of India before August 30 and expecting release of funds any time now. And hopefully, the work would start on these colleges within one month,” Mr Taj maintained.
In response to another question, the Minister said the purpose of appointing Nodal Officers for all the colleges was to speed up the work on these projects. These officers in coordination with the concerned Deputy Commissioners/ Revenue Officers and the Medical Education Department helped in preparing documents and ensuring speedy process of land acquisition. These colleges are being built on the Government land. There was some delay in Doda and Rajouri while papers for Kathua, Anantnag and Baramulla projects had already been submitted. But now for Doda also the land has been acquired and the papers submitted just this week.
At Rajouri also the land acquisition problem was experienced. The land near existing hospital was not sufficient and some land from Education Department was acquired and it also was not found sufficient and therefore, for hostel and college staff quarters, nearly 100 kanals of land was acquired near BGSB University.
When asked if new Government at Centre delayed funding to J&K, what will be the fate of these colleges and State Government’s commitment, Mr Taj said the MoU has been signed between the Commissioner /Secretary Health and Medical Education Department J&K Government and Union Health Secretary. Both the State and the Central Governments have signed MoU and the Centre can not stop or delay funding on these projects. The work would definitely start on these projects within month and JKPCC most likely initiate the work.
Principal Medical College Jammu. Dr Ghanshyam when contacted said that Government has already appointed Dr Bela Mahajan from GMC Jammu as Nodal Officer for Kathua Medical College, Dr Sunanda for Doda Medical College while Dr Geelani from Pharmacology Deptt as Nodal Officer for Rajouri Medical College. The Principal further disclosed that as per MCI norms minimum 160 kanals of land is required for the College and as per the requirement the process has almost been completed. In Kathua, the land adjoining new hospital has been identified.
In Rajouri also some old hospital and some Education Department land has been acquired and the papers forwarded. But the land was not sufficient but some 100 kanals of land was more acquired near Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University. The MCI would initiate its process but side by side with the release of funds, the work on the project would start. He claimed that Government intends to start fresh batch of MBBS in these Medical Colleges in the coming session (2015-16). The release of adequate funds in time would decide the fate of these colleges, he maintained.
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