By TCN News,
New Delhi: Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Lt. Gen. Zamiruddin Shah held meetings with members of Planning Commission of India at Yojna Bhawan on Tuesday. The main agenda of the meeting was the annual low funding – that is also static for last seven years – to the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) of Aligarh Muslim University.
JNMC, one of country’s prestigious institutions of its kind, is passing through a very critical stage due to low maintenance funding by UGC. As UGC treats the JNMC as any other department of AMU, so it is neglected like other medical colleges and hospitals under UGC. The maintenance grant of JNMC- AMU is static since 2005 with Rs 2 crore 10 lakhs per annum, this consists of Rs 54.77/ patient bed/day. The central government health services hospital (CGHS) maintained by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare are provided grant Rs 250-300/ patient bed/ day.
The AMU VC first had a meeting with Planning Commission member Dr. Narender Jadhav (Education, Labour-Employment-Skill Development, Sports & Youth Affairs, and Social Justice and Empowerment). In the 2nd round he met among others Dr Syeda Hameed, Planning Commission member (Health, Women and Children, Minorities, Voluntary Action (Planning Commission is a nodal agency for Govt – NGO interface), Handlooms and Handicrafts. The AMU VC was accompanied by AMU alumni P. Mohammad and Dr Imteyaz Ahmad – the duo has been leading the campaign for fund hike for JNMC for a long time.
Dr. Narender Jadhav explained the functioning of planning commission and various committees recommendations. AMU-VC highlighted the 12th five year plan funding for AMU and its increasing demand as it caters to the educational needs of 30,000 students from deprived minority community. He explained the pressing need for foreign students hostel, and developmental fund for building and infrastructure.
Dr. Narender Jadhav has asked for proposal to include the AMU-VC as a member for the Working Group of Higher Education under planning commission.
Dr. Narender Jadhav and Dr. Syeda Hameed agreed to recommend the special funding for JNMCH through the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
Dr. Narendra Jadhav also asked VC to send a request for the funds for AMU which includes two new Centres under 12th Five Year Period and he will consider the request with consultation of MHRD.
The issue of meager funding of JN Medical College, Aligarh was highlighted in the Rajya Sabha on 22nd May 2012. The question was regarding two central university governed medical hospitals. JNMCH, AMU, Aligarh is the only hope for tertiary healthcare for western UP districts of Rampur, Moradabad, Sambhal, Khurja, Badaun while for eastern UP, there is Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi. Both funded by UGC are ailing with same condition.