MP govt to spend Rs 11 cr on nursing course

Bhopal, Sep 14 (UNI) In an unique initiative, the Madhya Pradesh government will spend Rs 11 crore on tuition fees for a four-year nursing course for 500 female higher secondary pass outs and post most of them in rural areas.

''The expense per trainee will be Rs 55,000 per annum. Similarly, Rs 18,000 will be spent annually on 300 radiographer trainees and 500 lab assistant trainees. Of 2,200 nurses' posts (1,200 for rural areas, 500 each for district hospitals and medical coleges) created this year, 900 have been filled,'' Public Health and Family Planning Minister Ajay Vishnoi told reporters here today.

Claiming that 3,000 posts would be created next year, the Minister added that the trainee nurses would have to sign bonds for serving the state government for at least seven years or pay Rs 2 lakh. The reservation policy would be followed while selecting trainees.

''The state has only one government nursing college while there are 27 privately-managed ones and the latter were urged to cooperate,'' Mr Vishnoi said in response to a question.

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