Kosal Discussion and Development Forum

Orissa may set up a government medical college at Balangir

July 2, 2010 at 5:42 pm sanjibkarmee 1 comment

Following is a report from The Pioneer:

Minister Planning & Coordination AU Singh Deo wants setting up of a Government medical college at Balangir, his native place. He has sent a proposal to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in this regard, said sources.

After repeated abortive attempts to attract private investors for the proposed medical college at Balangir, Singh Deo reportedly feels there is no way out but to set up the institution with Government funding. The Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) has time and again persuaded the private sector investors for the proposed college but to no effect. The private sector showed lukewarm response to the WODC’s proposal and it failed in its initiative as many as four times.

Chief Secretary Tarun Kanti Mishra, after analysing the situation, has also strongly favoured a Government medical college at Balangir. Singh Deo, taking a positive view on the Chief Secretary’s proposal, has supported the idea and requested the Chief Minister to consider the suggestion.

The Chief Secretary has also suggested setting up another Government medical college at Balasore. He has pointed out that there are at present three Government-run medical colleges at Cuttack, Berhampur and Burla. Besides, there are three private medical colleges at Bhubaneswar while the Hi-Tech group has been allowed to establish another medical college at Rourkela.

The Central University of Odisha has also been requested to set up a medical college at Koraput. The Sahayog Foundation has shown keen interest to set up a medical college at Keonjhar. The Union Ministry of Steel has been approached for a medical college funded by the SAIL at Rourkela by upgrading the Ispat General Hospital (IGH) there. The Mahanadi Coalfield Limited (MCL) is setting up a medical college at Talcher.

So, a Government medical college at Balangir seems the only option available. With another Government medical college at Balasore, there would be a harmonious spread of medical colleges across the State, feels the Chief Secretary, said the sources. The proposal is pending with the Chief Minister for taking a final decision, added the sources.

Entry filed under: Balangir, Balangir Medical College (WODC), Balangir-Titilagarh-Patanagarh, Developmental schemes for districts, Health Care Facility, Higher Education Zone, Region watch, Western Odisha development council.