Port Blair, Aug 21:The Bharatiya Janta Party today expressed gratitude to the decision of the Government of India under the able leadership of Mr. Narendra Modi for taking up of the issue of establishment of a Medical College in A&N Islands.
In a letter to the Minister of Health, Mr. Vishal Jolly today said that the issue of establishment of such a college in the remotest part of the country divided by a vast stretch of sea has truly been appreciated by the Cabinet which acceded the proposal for A&N Islands as well alongwith some other parts of the country.
“The party alongwith a vast cross-section of the people of the Islands realizes that the Degree offered by this new College run directly by Govt. of India will be of much value. This College will fully be funded by the Government alone, unlikely in other states where the ratio of 75- 25 is funded by Government and concerned state. Once the said College comes up the Islands, this will have a minimum 50 seats for Island students to undergo Medical Studies within affordable expenditure. The people of the Islands are anxiously waiting for the College to begin,” Jolly said in his letter.
Hitting indirectly to those opposing medical college Jolly added that some people, may be with certain vested interest, are trying to misguide the people on this issue quoting reasons otherwise indigestible.
“In this context the Union Territory of Puducherry with, a population of nine lakh is a glowing example where 2 Govt. Medical Colleges and 8 Private Medical Colleges are doing well,” he said.
Jolly added that this particular Medical College under Govt. sector under the centrally sponsored scheme once comes up in Andaman and Nicobar Islands will not only boost up the Health facility in the Islands allowing super specialists services for commonest of common people with much less expenditure but also heighten the tourism sector since more than 35 seats will go to students from Mainland India.
“This will also open up the possibility of upgrading this College to run Post Graduate courses in future. This will also help running various Para-Medical courses supplement the health sector. The party in this Islands could feel the nerve of the Islanders and feels that the setting up of Medical College will be a boon to them with will bring a better and health life for every Islanders in addition to bring and overall development in many sectors otherwise related to this venture,” he said adding “I on behalf of the Islanders in general and party in particular strongly feel that expeditious efforts need be taken for establishing this Medical College and to starts its session from 2015 academic session.”
On last Tuesday, the lone Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Bishnu Pada Ray had echoed the recommendations of Dr. Prem Nair, MD, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Kochi who favoured starting cost effective Post Graduate medical courses in the islands instead of expensive medical college.
Clearly conflicting views are coming out from Member of Parliament and Vishal Jolly, who belongs to same political party.
