New 100-seat nursing college at Gondia
   Date :15-Feb-2024

nursing college 
 
 
 
 
 
Staff Reporter
 
 
In a good news for the region, specially Vidarbha, a 100-seat nursing college has been finalised in Gondia by the State Government. The decision in this regard was taken in the Cabinet meeting held in Mumbai, on Wednesday. In the meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra Government took a decision by which new nursing colleges, with intake capacity of 100 each, will come up at six locations across State. Vidarbha’s Gondia is one of the six locations. The other places where the nursing colleges have been finalised are Jalgaon, Latur, Baramati, Sangli (Miraj), and Nandurbar.
 
Considering the spread of infectious diseases in the state and the country, the government has decided to make radical changes in the paramedical curriculum and for that purpose such nursing colleges are being started. Government has estimated Rs 173.88 crore as expenditure for starting these colleges. The amount will be spent for the first four years for these 6 Government nursing colleges. From the fifth year, about Rs 13.99 crore will be given every year.
 
The nursing colleges in Nandurbar and Gondia, will come under the scheme of the center ‘Scheme for augmenting Nursing Education- Establishment of new Colleges of Nursing (CON) in co-location with Medical Colleges’. Under this scheme these two colleges will get Rs 10 crore each as an additional fund. Out of this, the Central Government will provide 60% of the funds (Rs 6 crore) and the state government will provide 40% of the funds (Rs 4 crore). These two nursing colleges will get Rs 32.97 crore each for construction, furniture, machinery, manpower and daily recurring expenses etc. This expenditure has also given approval. Rs 107.94 crore will be given to nursing colleges in Jalgaon, Latur, Baramati and Sangli (Miraj) for, construction, furniture, machinery, manpower and daily recurring expenses etc. The recruitment will be conducted as per the approval of the Secretary-level Committee.
 
 
Hike in stipend for Interns of health sciences courses
Maharashtra Government has increased the stipend of interns pursuing health sciences courses like medical, dental, ayurved, unani, homoeopathy in various colleges run either by government or run on grant. Till now the interns were getting Rs 11,000/-. Now they will receive Rs 18,000/- per month. The decision was taken in the meeting of Maharashtra cabinet on Wednesday. It was also decided to give a stipend of Rs 18,000 for the internship period to those who have completed their medical degree course from abroad. This change will come into effect from February 2024. The demand to get hike to the students--Foreign Medical Graduates- (FMGs) was also being made since long.
 
The Association of State Medical Interns, Maharashtra (ASMI, Maharashtra) has been constantly demanding the hike in stipend. They had pointed out that the interns in Maharashtra were not getting stipend on the lines of their counterparts in other states. Dr Gaurav Sureka, General Secretary, ASMI has welcomed the decision of Government. He said, “It is a great development in the welfare of medical interns across the state. The Government is kind enough and is supporting medical interns. ASMI Maharashtra extends its heartfelt gratitude to all stakeholders, volunteers, and committee members whose relentless dedication and advocacy have played a crucial role in advocating for this much-needed change.” According to ASMI, by increasing the stipend, in a way Government has recognised the invaluable contributions of medical interns and underscores the Government's commitment to their welfare. ASMI also attributed the credit to the united efforts of association and assured its members that it would remain steadfast in its mission to advocate for the rights and well-being of medical interns.