Allocate requisite funds to VMMC for construction of adequate hostel facilities: Parliament Panel to Health Dept

"The Committee, therefore, recommends that requisite fund may be allocated to VMMC for construction of adequate hostel facilities for Undergraduate students and Postgraduate students, Auditorium, and Lecture Theatres" mentioned the Committee Report.

The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, headed by Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav, has submitted its 126^th report on Demands for Grants 2021-22 on 08.03.2021.

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While looking at the key concern areas related to the VMMC, the Top Health Panel noted that Old Boys Hostel contains 182 rooms having facilities single accommodation for 156 students and double accommodation 52 students in 26 rooms thus, total no. of students accommodated in old boys hostel is 208, however, the hostel is not safe to live in due to the old building. New Boys Hostel has 164 rooms, 100 for single accommodation and 64 for double accommodation thus have the capacity to accommodate 100 + 128 = 228. Therefore, the College may provide accommodation for 436 boys altogether.

On the other hand, Girls Hostel contains 190 rooms having accommodation for 170 single and 20 double, therefore, the no. of total students who can be accommodated is 170 + 40 = 210.

However, the Committee noted that the total number of MBBS students at the college is 830 and it would be 890 within the next three years. With an additional no. of 170 interns total no. of required accommodation at present would be 890 + 170 = 1060 students.

However, as the old boys' Hostel is not safe to live in, so the proper facility for accommodation of students including girl students is 228 + 210 = 438. So total additional hostel facility required on an urgent basis for 622 undergraduate students (girls and boys) is 1060- 438=622 (students).

Not only accommodation but the Parliamentary Committee also looked at other facilities necessary for the students as well. At Present, there are four Lecture Theaters with a capacity of 100 Students. However, the institute needs Four lecture Theaters of capacity 200 each as the intake of UG students 170 per year and there are four Batches i.e. 170 x 4 = 680 Students. The Committee took note of the fact that the construction projects for the New Lecture Theaters in VMMC has been approved but pending due to lack of fund.

Noting that there is no auditorium in the college and the hospital the Committee in its report mentioned the acute need of Auditorium of capacity at least 1000 persons. However, the Committee noted that the construction of the Auditorium Project has been approved but is pending due to lack of funds. Funds are necessary to purchase equipment and machines for research as well.

It has been also noted by the Committee that an urgent space is required for Examination Cell, Academic Section, Department of Biochemistry, Department of Pathology and Department of Microbiology. In fact, the Committee further opined that there is an acute need of filling up of the post of Registrar, Deputy Registrar, and necessary staff strength in accounts section.

As per reports, the Committee noted that the management is not cooperative in paying TA, DA, and Remuneration to External as well as to Internal Examiners. This is leading towards difficulty in arranging the External Examiners for different Exams. The Committee further observed that results of various exams of UG and PG students have not been declared timely leading to unnecessarily delay in the promotion of students to the next professional.

The top health panel noted that as per the National Medical commission, Principal/Director should be the head of the institute with financial and administrative powers and a Separate Budget should be allocated to the Medical College for better academic progress and optimum functioning of medical college.

Taking all these facts into account, the Parliamentary Committee observed that Hostel facility for Junior residents (Non PG) - 590, Senior residents – 810, Postgraduate students - 975 is required on urgent basis, as at present, Hostel facility is available only for 300 residents. The committee also expressed concern over the issue that adequate fund has not been earmarked for construction of Auditorium and Lecture Theatres.

"The Committee, therefore, recommends that requisite fund may be allocated to VMMC for construction of adequate hostel facilities for Undergraduate students and Postgraduate students, Auditorium, and Lecture Theatres" mentioned the Committee report.