CCEA approves medical colleges upgradation plan - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Thursday approved a proposal on strengthening and upgradation of state government Medical Colleges for starting new post graduate disciplines. The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry moved a proposal to increase PG seats by central funding during XI Plan period. The approval will result in an additional 5000 seats in PG courses in 148 State Government Medical colleges in pre and para clinical disciplines. It will also result in strengthening the existing public health delivery system. With CCEA approving the proposal the state government medical colleges would get a one-time grant of Rs.1350 crore under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS). According to CSS funding pattern the Centre would fund 75 percent and the rest by the respective state government under which the college falls. The CCEA opined that release of funds under the scheme should be made conditional upon States committing to incur necessary recurring expenditure for maintaining the facilities created under the scheme after XI plan period. The CCEA decided to disburse the funds directly to the Head of the Institute in two instalments. The State Government will undertake to refund the funds if the stipulated increase in PG seats or starting PG disciplines do not fructify within the prescribed period.