Bhubaneswar: Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged the state and central governments for a medical college in Bhadrak and a hostel for girls belonging to minority communities in Bhubaneswar under Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakaram (PMJVK).
“Bhadrak district does not have any tertiary medical facility as of now. Having a medical college in the district would be extremely helpful in providing the required medical facilities for people in and around the district,” Dharmendra wrote in the letter dated February 17.
He said that creation of community assets and health was one of the priority sectors under the PMJVK being implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. “I request you to give necessary instructions to the Health Department to send a detailed proposal to the Ministry of Minority Affairs for a medical college in Bhadrak district under this scheme,” he added.
Dharmendra has also requested Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to allow projects like girls hostel, residential schools, ITIs skill centres in locations, where students belonging to minority communities migrate to in search of better education, skill, healthcare facilities in the state capitals and other metropolitan cities.
In a letter dated February 14, Dharmendra said that Ministry of Minority Affairs sanctions projects under Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakaram (PMJVK) only in identified Minority Concentration Areas with more than 25 per cent minority population and the area is relatively backward in socio economic and basic amenities parameters as compared to the national average.
“I request you to instruct expeditious action for making provisions to cover major cities as well as state capitals under PMJVK scheme, so that infrastructure support in priority sectors such as education, health, skill, women empowerment etc, can be made available there as well,” he wrote.
