Rayagada, Dec, 16: A single major issue has been raised both in Parliament and in the Odisha Legislative Assembly—the establishment of a medical college in Rayagada district. Despite the presence of a so-called “double-engine” government at both the Centre and the State, local MPs and MLAs have questioned why the earlier announcement of setting up a medical college in every district has not been implemented.
Koraput MP Saptagiri Ulaka raised this important issue in Parliament and criticized the government. Similarly, Rayagada MLA Kadraka Appalaswamy and MLA Nilamadhab Hikaka strongly placed this demand during Zero Hour in the State Assembly.
MLA Kadraka Appalaswamy informed the House about the deplorable health situation in the district. He stated that for Rayagada’s large population, nearly 460 doctors are required, whereas currently the lives of the people depend on only about 140 doctors. Nearly 50% of the sanctioned posts for doctors and specialists are lying vacant. Crucial posts such as ophthalmologists have remained vacant at the district headquarters for the past three years.
Due to the shortage of doctors, the district headquarters hospital has been reduced to merely a referral center, causing severe hardship to local residents. Although infectious diseases like cholera, diphtheria, and malaria frequently occur in the district, adequate facilities and manpower are not available to deal with them. As a result, patients—mostly poor and tribal people—are forced to travel to Koraput, Berhampur, or even neighboring Andhra Pradesh for better treatment, spending large sums of money.
Drawing the government’s attention, MLA Kadraka said that sufficient government land is available at the district headquarters for establishing a medical college. Recently, 506 acres of land have come under government control from JESCO. This land is fully suitable for setting up a medical college under a centrally sponsored scheme or through other means.
Although announcements have been made for establishing new medical colleges in several districts of the state, Rayagada’s name does not appear on that list. The Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, had earlier promised to establish a medical college during his visit to Rayagada, but no budgetary allocation was made later. The MLA questioned why such delay is continuing even under the present double-engine government.
He firmly stated that the establishment of a medical college would enable many economically backward students from tribal areas to pursue higher education and would ensure improved healthcare services for the people of the district. Raising his voice in the Assembly, MLA Kadraka urged the government to take an immediate decision on setting up a medical college in Rayagada.