By TCN News,
New Delhi: Finally today University Grants Commission (UGC) woke up to the month-long campaign by AMU alumni highlighting discrimination in fund allocation for the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College. The UGC has today indicated increase in funds if the university points out specific fund deficiency.
Responding to the complaint filed by AMU alumnus P. Mohammad on 18th May 2012, UGC on 12th June replied in a letter to Parwez. “If the University feels that there is deficient of fund, it may send proposal to UGC for a particular deficient item. However, UGC release fund to each Central University as per their requirement & availability of funds,” said A.K Saroya (undersecretary UGC) in the letter.
The grave discrimination of UGC funded medical colleges of Uttar Pradesh was raised after TCN report of 17th May 2012. The AMU & JNMC Alumni met several MPs and the issue was raised in zero hour of Rajya Sabha by Mohammad Adeeb on the last day of budget session i.e 22nd May 2012.
AMU VC Zameeruddin Shah had also met MHRD minister Kapil Sibal on 7th June 2012.
JNMCH, AMU, Aligarh is the only hope for tertiary healthcare for western UP districts of Rampur, Moradabad, Sambhal, Khurja, Badaun etc. In eastern UP, Institute of Medical sciences, Sir sunderlal hospital BHU, Varanasi funded by UGC is also ailing with same condition. The central government hospitals in Delhi funded by MOHFW for central government health services (CGHS) are adequately funded. Therefore the MPs demanded inclusion of JNMCH, AMU & IMS, Varanasi funding under MOHFW.
The JN Medical College was recognized by the MCI in the year 1969. In the same year under the Chairmanship of the Secretary, Ministry of Education, Govt, of India it was agreed that fund would be provided by the UGC.The maintenance grant of JNMCH- AMU is static since 2005 with 2 crore 10 lakhs per annum, that is Rs 54.77/ patient bed / day. The central government health services hospital (CGHS) maintained by MOHFW are provided grant Rs. 250-300/ patient bed/ day.
After the signal from UGC, now the issue lies with the AMU and JNMCH authorities. They should send a proposal for deficiencies in the annual maintenance plan fund of hospital. The adequate funds should be demanded by professionally prepared proposal. The AMU-VC has already met MHRD kapil sibal on 7th June 2012 regarding funding of JNMCH & has received a verbal assurance.