BARIPADA: THE dawn-to-dusk bandh called by different organisations to press for issuance of approval to run Pandit Raghunath Murmu Government Medical College and Hospital (MCH) here hit normal life in the district on Thursday.
The bandh, called by Congress, CPM, NGOs and lawyers’ association was peaceful as shops, business establishments, banks, offices and educational institutions remained closed. Traffic on Chennai-Kolkata NH 18 and Mumbai-Kolkata NH 6 came to a grinding halt. Train and bus services were affected, hitting regular commuters hard. The situation was similar in Udala, Karanjia, Rairangpur and Baripada sub-divisions where the block units supported the bandh.
Mayurbhanj SP Prakash R said efforts by policemen to convince agitators to clear traffic on NHs failed. To maintain law and order, forces were deployed at different junctions, bus stands, banks and roads connecting the district, Prakash said, adding that no untoward incident was reported.
District Congress Committee, CPM, Mayurbhanj unit of Odisha Motor Transport Workers’ Union and Mayurbhanj District Bar Association took part in the bandh. They are protesting delay by Medical Council of India (MCI) in issuing Letter of Permission (LoP) to open the MCH. Though MCI has given LoP approval to Sahid Laxman Nayak Government MCH at Koraput, Baripada MCH has been kept waiting despite having all infrastructure, the protestors said.
Congress activist Rakesh Singh and District Bar Association secretary Biplab Barik said the MCI team visited Baripada MCH on December 22 and reviewed the preparedness for beginning classes from 2017-18 academic session.
The second visit was cancelled, they rued. Both the State and the Centre had sponsored financial assistance to open the MCH at Baripada which would cater to the patients from Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar, besides those from West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar.
Early solution sought
First visit of MCI team was on December 22 , last year
The team reviewed preparedness for beginning classes from 2017-18 academic session
On Friday, Union Minister gave permission to MCI to conduct second inspection
Admission to UG courses for 2017-18 session will be possible only if the council is satisfied with the facilities available in the new medical college
MCI to submit inspection report by May 24
Bhubaneswar: Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Thursday accorded permission to the Medical Council of India (MCI) for conducting a second inspection of Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital (MCH) at Baripada. Nadda gave this permission after a meeting with Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi. Pradhan discussed problems faced by some government medical colleges, including the one at Baripada, regarding inspection by the MCI. A decision was taken to allow the MCI to inspect these colleges and submit a report by May 24, Pradhan told reporters after the meeting.
Holding the State Government responsible for delay in submitting compliance to the shortcomings pointed out by the MCI in case of Baripada MCH, Pradhan said admission to undergraduate courses for 2017-18 academic session will be possible only if the council is satisfied with the facilities available in the new medical college. Even as Baripada MCH has not received the letter of permission (LoP) for admission to undergraduate courses by April 30, the last date fixed by the MCI, Pradhan said there would not be any problem to start the academic session this year if the council found it suitable from all aspects. Principal Secretary (Health) PK Meherda said, the State Government has taken necessary action for compliance. Union Health Secretary CK Mishra attended the meeting.