THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ESI Medical College at Paripally, Kollam, taken over by the government from the ESI Corporation, remains a non-starter. The government is yet to create posts and complete the takeover procedures.
Though the MoU between the state government and the ESIC was signed on October 12 and a special officer appointed for completing the procedures, the takeover remains on paper. When the government is keen on starting new medical colleges in spaces sans proper infrastructure, the ESI Medical College fits the bill, sources said and added the delay was deliberate. “The files are being shuttled between the Finance and the Health Departments with no concrete decisions. It is for the Finance Department to take a final call on post creation,” sources said. Neither the team from the Directorate of Medical Education that has to finalise the procedures nor the special officer has visited the college.
Doubts have been raised over the recognition for the MBBS seats as the Medical Council of India has almost completed its inspections in the state. If posts are not created and the Medical College not opened for the public, then it would be difficult to get the first batch in the coming academic year, sources said. Kollam MP N K Premachandran, involved in the takeover, admitted there was a delay on the government’s part. “The MoU was signed in October and by now everything should have been completed and the college opened,” he said. He said the Chief Minister had assured him to call a meeting soon to speed up the procedure. As the Finance Department is handled by the CM, he hoped there would not be any more delay in creation of posts and other issues.