The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) staged a walkout in the Assembly on Thursday against the Speaker’s refusal to permit discussion on an adjournment motion on the government’s failure to support the new medical colleges set up by the former UDF regime. UDF MLAs staged a sit-in in front of the legislative complex to highlight the issue.
Health Minister K.K. Shylaja said the Medical Council of India (MCI) had denied recognition to new colleges that had been hastily inaugurated without ensuring even the basic infrastructure. She said it would take time to improve the facilities.
Self-financing colleges
Moving the notice for the adjournment motion, former Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar said the number of medical seats had come down by 1,000 this year. “By refusing to provide an undertaking to the MCI on improving the facilities, the government is trying to scuttle admissions to the new colleges. This vindictive approach comes at the expense of the students who are forced to seek admission to medical colleges in other States.” Mr. Sivakumar also alleged that the government had failed to open discussions with self-financing medical colleges which had lost recognition.
Ms. Shylaja accused the UDF government of messing up the medical education sector. The government would not abandon the new colleges. But there was no point in giving an undertaking to the MCI for recognition. “The new institutions have no proper labs, hostels, staff quarters, academic block or outpatient facilities. We will address the inadequacies and provide the colleges with the facilities but it will take some time”.
