Date:10/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/10/stories/2008101051970300.htm

Other States - Puducherry

Minister seeks law to streamline private educational institutions

Staff Reporter

“More private hospitals should be set up to handle cases of road accidents”

PUDUCHERRY: Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V. Narayanasamy on Thursday urged the Chief Minister and Ministers to introduce a law to streamline the functioning of private medical and engineering colleges in Puducherry.

At the inauguration of a private orthopaedic clinic, he said education was increasingly becoming commercialised in Puducherry when compared to other States.

“Private medical and engineering colleges are utilising the land, electricity, drinking water and infrastructure and are making huge profits by offering seats for Rs.20 lakh to students from other States,” he said.

For this, he suggested the introduction of a law to streamline the functioning of private institutions.

“The seats for MD and MS are being offered for Rs.50 lakh and Rs.75 lakh. The Union government is very keen on preventing such practices. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi are keen that education should reach the common people,” Mr. Narayanasamy said.

The Union government was giving special attention to the Union Territory in terms of providing proper roads, electricity, drinking water and infrastructure facilities for the people.

Government quota

“Puducherry has seven private medical colleges which allocate 35 per cent of seats for students under government quota. In Tamil Nadu, colleges allot 50 per cent of seats for the government quota and I urge the Puducherry Chief Minister and Ministers to take measures to obtain 50 per cent seats for government quota from these institutions,” he said.

Mr. Narayanasamy said more private hospitals should be set up in Puducherry especially to handle cases of road accidents.

Medical tourism

“Private institutions should come forward to create a cordial environment and good medical facilities to promote medical tourism,” he said.

Social Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy, Public Health Minister A. Namassivayam, president of Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee A.V. Subramanian and Member of Legislative Assembly N. Anand were present.