Hostel fecility soon at CMC
A massive plan to improve lodging facilities in government colleges has been the direct outcome of the Stanley Medical College incident.In the 2007-2008 fiscal year, Rs.45.47 crore was allotted for refurbishing or building medical college hospitals.In Chennai, plans are on to build and improve hospital facilities at Stanley and Kilpauk Medical Colleges.While Kilpauk has been allotted of Rs.3 crore for setting up a hostel for postgraduate students, Stanley Medical College will get Rs.18.47 crore to provide hostel facilities for 500 students.This is higher than allotments for hostel expenses of the two previous years put together.A sum of Rs.8.84 crore, set aside in 2006 and 2007, is being spent on building hostels.Further, about Rs.21 crore has been apportioned under hospital maintenance funds for building hostels, according to Health Secretary V.K. Subburaj. Stanley Hospital will get Rs.2.30 crore, Government Dental College Rs.2.40 crore, Chengalpattu Government Medical College Rs.2.60 crore, Tirunelveli Medical College Rs.2.60 crore, Thanjavur Medical College Rs.2.50 crore, Tiruchi Medical College Rs.3 crore and Madurai Medical College 2.60 crore.
Nursing students also stand to gain. Hostels will come up in three colleges — Kilpauk Medical College, Stanley Medical College and Coimbatore Medical College — at a cost of Rs.3 crore.Also, Rs.25.68 crore has been set aside for refurbishing existing hostels in medical colleges throughout the State. Chennai’s government medical colleges had been allotted Rs.43 lakh for the purpose.This has now been enhanced to Rs.90 lakh, including Rs.65 lakh for maintenance and Rs.25 lakh for electricity charges.At a recent meeting of all deans of medical colleges, Health Minister M.R.K. Paneerselvam urged hospital authorities to pay attention to hygiene and sanitation within the premises, with specific focus on the hostels.
