Phulbani's medical college to be named after Laxmananda Saraswati, announces Odisha govt
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has decided to name the Government Medical College and Hospital in Phulbani, Kandhamal district, after slain Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Laxmananda Saraswati.
The decision was approved by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi recently as part of a series of measures aimed at honouring Saraswati's contribution to the welfare of tribal communities in the district.
According to PTI report, a government medical college and hospital in Odisha's Kandhamal district will be named after VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati, who was assassinated in 2008, the BJP dispensation in the state decided on Monday.
Paying rich tributes to Saraswati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved a proposal to allocate Rs 13 crore from the CM’s Special Assistance fund for the preservation of the Jaleshpata Ashram that was established by the VHP leader.
The conservation efforts included a mega river lift project worth Rs 60 lakh for water supply, and the construction of a 300-seat students’ hostel among other facilities.
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“In order to keep alive the memory of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati of Kandhamal and in recognition of his service and sacrifice for the tribal people of the district, CM Majhi decided to name the government medical college and hospital in Phulbani after Saraswati,” a statement from the CMO said, quotes PTI
It also said that a 300-seat student hostel will be established with an investment of Rs 5 crore. Saraswati’s memorial and heritage site will be preserved with an investment of Rs 3 crore.
Along with this, funds would also be provided for the construction of toilets, additional buildings for student hostels, construction of walls, classrooms, renovation of hostel buildings and others, the CMO added.
Earlier, the Odisha government enhanced the quotas for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) category students and introduced reservation for the Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC) in medical, dental, ayurveda, homeopathy and nursing education.
"While the quota for the ST students has been raised from 12 per cent to 22.50 per cent, it has been enhanced from 8 per cent to 16.25 per cent for SCs. The state government has introduced an 11.25 per cent reservation for OBC students, who are known as SEBC in Odisha," Majhi had stated
He said this new reservation system will be implemented across universities, their affiliated colleges and educational institutions, ITIs and polytechnics in the state in the fields of medicine, surgery, dental, nursing, pharmacy, allied health sciences, psychiatry, ayurveda, homeopathy, as well as engineering, technology, management, computer applications, agriculture and allied sciences, architecture, planning and cinematic arts.
