Pondy mulls handing over medical college bldg to ESI

Puducherry,Sep 9 (UNI)The administration is mulling handing over the partially constructed government medical college building to the ESI Corporation, Home Minister E Valsaraj said here today.

Inaugurating a branch of the ESIC office in the town, Mr Valsaraj, who is also holding the Health portfolio, said though it was the desire of the government to have it's own medical college, the present financial position would not allow it.

Hence, a decision on the handing over of the building would be taken at a Cabinet meeting.

The Chief Minister had already stated the immediate financial requirement of the Union Territory was Rs 352 crore,he said adding the money would be sufficent only to pay the salary to the government employees under the VI Pay Commission recommendations.

The ESIC Director General met him about two months ago and sought 15 acre of land for setting up an ESIC Medical College here.

Puducherry was already having seven private medical colleges and the JIPMER, he said adding the government would seek 50 per cent seats as it's quota in the ESIC Medical College.

The Puducherry Administration need not spend a single paise for the medical college and since the ESIC was having Rs 12,000 crore with it, it was ready to start a medical college here at a cost of Rs 300 crore.

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