It's a 'defeatist system', regrets Guv

Expressing disappointment over the slow pace of work on the new campus proposed for the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Governor H R Bhardwaj said on Monday that he was “heartbroken” as the state of works in the State was turning out to be a “defeatist system.”

He was addressing the gathering at the inauguration of ‘Jeeva Raksha,’ a programme to offer training in emergency medical care for medical professionals. He said that he was not satisfied with the state of affairs in the RGUHS and that Vice-Chancellor Prof K S Sriprakash was the lone fighter there.

Delay and red-tapism will not allow the State to progress, he remarked, adding that local elected representatives were not working, thus slowing down progress of the State. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, the Governor said that he had told the minister concerned to expedite works.

The government is not responding, he said. On the extension of tenure of VTU Vice-Chancellor H Maheshappa, the Governor said the decision “was unanimous”. The others (in fray) “were neither here nor there,” he said. The search committee constituted for the appointment of the V-C had come under criticism as the credibility of some of its members had been questioned by academicians.

When asked whether this was brought to his notice before extending Maheshappa’s term, Bhardwaj said his nominee for the search panel was UPSC chairperson D P Agarwal and there was no controversy surrounding him. With regard to the other members (nominated by VTU executive council and Syndicate and the State government), he said, “Everybody appoints their own people.”

 Dr Vedprakash Mishra, chairman, Academic Committee, Medical Council of India (MCI), who also took part in the inaugural of Jeeva Raksha told reporters that the MCI was evolving a “competency-based curriculum,” which would focus on equipping students with specific skills, preparing them for the profession. Mishra favoured starting a full-fledged postgraduate course in emergency medical care.

With regard to the curriculum, a committee of experts has been constituted and the MCI hopes to submit it to the government by the end of this year, he said. On the denial of permission to six proposed medical colleges in the State, he said the MCI was merely a recommending body and the Union government would have the final say.