Forum demands govt. medical colleges in Vijayapura

The Vijayapura government medical college agitation committee has opposed the State government’s plans for a medical college in Public-Private-Partnership mode and has demanded the setting up of a government medical college in Vijayapura district instead.

Leaders passed a resolution opposing the PPP model and demanded that the State government fully fund and operate the new government medical college in the district. They said that most of the infrastructure facilities required for the college were already present in Vijayapura city, like a well-equipped hospital with qualified teachers and equipments and requisite land for construction of classrooms, hostels and staff quarters.

Aravind Kulkarni, convenor of the committee, said a delegation would meet CM Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru on Thursday and submit a memorandum. A protest will be organised in Vijayapura city on September 9. He said that the proposal had faced opposition from Minister Shivanand Patil and BJP leaders, including former MLA Appu Pattanshetti and former MLC Arun Shahapur.

Annaraya Iligeri, leader of the left-wing parties’ union, said that the proposal would drive the poor students out of medical education. “Vijayapura has all the infrastructure facilities and human resources to start a government medical college from this academic year itself. In such a situation, the proposal for a PPP medical college is meaningless,” he said.

Bhagwan Reddy, a member, said that the protest will continue till the State government drops the proposal. He said various organisations like student bodies, farmers’ organisations, labour unions, and senior citizens’ associations had pledged their support to the demand for a government medical college in the district.

Bhogesh Solapur, Aam Aadmi Party district president, said he would support the demand. He said that the committee members would meet legislators and leaders from all parties to mobilise support for their cause. Anil Hosmani, Dalit ideologue, and other leaders like H.T. Bharat Kumar, Fayaz Kaladagi, Vidyavati Ankalagi, Kaveri Rajput and others were present in the meeting.

The proposal is two years old. The State government said in 2023 that it would facilitate the establishment of PPP model medical colleges in the 11 districts that do not have medical colleges.

The plan envisages a 50:50 investment by the government and private agencies. Medical education minister Sharanprakash Patil announced that the government would allow PPP model medical colleges in Tumakuru, Kolar and Vijayapura. Officials say that the proposal would mean that private agencies will be involved in recruitment of staff and day to day functioning of the college, while utilising the government hospital and other buildings and equipments.

Student bodies like ABVP and All India Democratic Students Organisation AIDSO have opposed it saying it will put medical education beyond the reach of poor and middle class students.

On Tuesday, ABVP students took out a protest rally against the PPP model. Police took them into custody when they tried to storm the Deputy Commissioner’s office. “The presence of private players will defeat the purpose of providing quality education to meritorious students at affordable fees. Fees are already skyrocketing even in government medical colleges, let alone private ones. PPP colleges will damage the system further,” they said.

Tuljaram Naik, AIDSO secretary, has urged the government to drop the proposal. “The government’s idea to open medical colleges under the PPP model indicates its submission to private players. We demand that the government drop the idea and take steps to open medical colleges fully owned by the government in all the districts,” he said.

However, some people have welcomed the move. S.V. Patil Sindagi, president of Vijayapura industries owners’ association, has urged the State government to allow a PPP model college, saying they function more efficiently than government institutions. However, he has cautioned the government to see that such institutions run as per government rules and guidelines and that they do not collect hefty donations or burden patients with exorbitant hospital charges.