Rs 32.4 crore sanctioned to GMC Jammu lapsed, infrastructure development to allot EWS seats yet to begin

Explaining the delay and the lapse for the second consecutive time, the authorities informed that since the pandemic struck the country the last year it was not possible for them to initiate any work during the lockdown. However, even after the lockdown, the administration of GMC had to concentrate on handling the COVID management and the money lapsed in the last financial year. Though the Health Education Department released the funds to the principal GMC Jammu for starting the infrastructure development work, this year also the amount lapsed.

As per a recent media report by Excelsior, the National Medical Commission (NMC) allotted 30 MBBS seats each for government medical colleges Jammu and Srinagar and 25 MBBS seats to Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) for the academic session 2019-20 under the 10% EWS quota on 21st June 2019. With the additional 30 seats, the number of MBBS seats in GMC Jammu increased up to 180. However, the 30 MBBS seats can only get recognition after GMC arranges additional infrastructure following the norms of NMC.

The institution secured a grant of Rs 32.4 crores from the Government of India on January 27 2020 so that it can fulfill the additional requirement of infrastructure, machinery, and equipment proposal to match the compulsory standards set by NMC. Funds were released for the construction of 2 additional lecture halls, one examination hall, one auditorium and cafeteria including parking, store lifts and ramps at CD Hospital, construction of the additional floor of Central Library at GMC Jammu, and construction of boys hostel, girls hostel and proposed Nursing Hostel at GMC Jammu. Last year the management remained preoccupied with COVID management, and the infrastructure work got delayed, reports the daily.

The Health and Medical Education Department released the funds to the principal of GMC Jammu and directed him to initiate the work of improving the infrastructure at the earliest. "Subsequently, Government of Jammu and Kashmir without wasting any time, realizing the importance of the said project linked with the career of 30 MBBS seats per batch, immediately released the funds to the then Principal GMC, Jammu on 07-02-2020, with the directions that infrastructure as per the approved proposal and purchase of necessary machinery and equipment be immediately started following all the codal formalities," sources said.

According to the daily, the Principal issued an order on 23-03-2021 and instructed the executive agency to provide a fund utilization certificate before 31-03-2021 so that it can be submitted to the Government of India. However, it was not possible by the concerned authorities to complete the task within the prescribed time and thus the funds lapsed again. The sources claimed that as conducting an inspection was not possible by NMC last year amidst the pandemic, it can be apprehended that a team of NMC officials might pay a visit to GMC Jammu to inspect the progress of the infrastructure development.

However, under the current circumstances of the non-completion of the work for two consecutive years, some are fearing that the NMC team might deem it fit to cancel the EWS quota for JMC Jammu forever, adds the daily.

Commenting the issue, the Principal GMC Jammu Dr. Shashi Sudhan Sharma stated that she sanctioned the funds in the favour of Chief Engineer PW(R&B) Department, Jammu after only a week of receiving the amount from the administrative department. She also stated that currently managing the second wave of covid-19 should be treated as the priority.