Giving a big boost to the Health and Medical Education sector, the Cabinet on Wednesday approved Rs 14,931 crore scheme to establish 58 new medical colleges and 10,000 seats for undergraduate courses and 8,000 seats to post graduate courses. The Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi also approved hike in Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Copra and approved Rs 4,800 crore for additional three crore cooking gas connections.
“Continuation of ongoing scheme to establish 58 new medical colleges attached with existing District/Referral hospitals already approved under Phase-l by 2019-20. And selection and establishment of 24 new medical colleges attached with existing District/ Referral hospitals under Phase-lI by 2021-22. The locations of proposed 24 new medical colleges in Phase-ll will be selected within the identified underserved areas in Challenge Mode,” said the Government statement detailing the approval of Rs 14,931 crore in the medial education sector.
Continuation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Up-gradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical colleges resulting in: increase of 10,000 UG seats by 2020-21 and 8,058 PG seats (4,058 in Phase-l by 2018-19 and 4,000 in Phase-ll by 2020-21), said the statement.
The scheme also envisages 112 Auxiliary Nursing and Midwifery (ANM) Schools and 136 General Nursing Midwifery (GNM) Schools by 2019-20 in under-served districts of the country. This Nursing Scheme will be implemented and completed with an amount of Rs 190 crore till 2019-20 for the schools where work has already been started.
“The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved to enhance of the target of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) from five crore to eight crore with an additional allocation of Rs 4,800 crore. The decision comes in the wake of huge response to Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) from the women particularly in rural areas and to cover such households not having LPG connection. The revised target of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) will be achieved by 2020,” said Government.
The CCEA also gave approval for increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Fair Average Quality (FAQ) of “Milling Copra” to Rs 7,500 per quintal for 2018 season from Rs 6,500 per quintal in 2017. The MSP for FAQ of “Ball Copra” has been increased to Rs 7,750 per quintal for 2018 season from Rs 6,785 per quintal in 2017.