Ablueprint is ready for the establishment of a medical college exclusively for the Muslims in West Bengal. The project report for this purpose has already been prepared and dependable source in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) say that it is under active consideration of Mamata Banerjee, although it is a fact that it has not yet got the green signal from the authorities of the government. But when Panchayat election is round the corner, can this decision be ignored?
The West Bengal University of Health Service (WBUHS), the apex body of medical colleges in the State, has prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) called ‘New Medical College (Minority Institute) in the State of West Bengal’ and has suggested that the institute be set up following the Public-Private Participation (PPP) model.
Confusion has cropped up regarding the legal status of this proposed college. Prof. Susanta Banerjee, Director of Medical Education (DME) has expressed his opinion in the following words, “Since we have no idea whether an institution can be set up exclusively for any particular community, we have to explore the legal aspects too.”
He has further said that both the Aligarh Muslim University and the Benares Hindu University admit students from all faiths though there are reservations for minorities in both the institutions. Officials in the CMO said, “We have got a proposal for setting up a medical college and hospital for Muslims based on the PPP model. We have informed the Chief Minister about this and have sought her advice.”
The salient features of this proposed university, as mentioned in the Detailed Project Report, are as follows: a) The College could come up either at Barasat or Rajarhat on 20 acres of land. The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 400 crore. It will be a 500-bed hospital. b) Authorities have planned for 100 seats for MBBS course of which 50 per cent will be from the management quota seats and the rest will be taken through Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). c) The institute will set up on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
(AKM)
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