Vijayapura
Members of various organisations have launched a sit-in protest against the state government’s proposal to establish a medical college on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model.
While the agitators have received full support from Sugar and Textile Minister Shivanand Patil who represents Basavana Bagewadi in the assembly, efforts by District Minister MB Patil to placate the agitators and make them withdraw the stir failed.
MB Patil, who recently visited the Ambedkar Circle where the protest is going on, tried to convince the agitators that PPP model will not be against the interest of the general population and assured that he would make efforts to discuss the issue with the Chief Minister. He appealed to the agitators to call off the agitation. However, not satisfied with his explanation, the agitators refused to oblige and said they would withdraw after getting an official statement from the government. The prominent citizens and members of organisations are opposing the establishment of the college on PPP model saying it would primarily benefit select private entities rather than general population.
Activist Arvind Kulkarni who is leading the agitation said the government has no reason to opt for PPP model because it has all the necessary facilities to establish the college on its own without spending much money. “The city has all the requisite facilities and infrastructure and the there will not be additional financial burden on the govt. There is a well-equipped 1,000-bed district hospital which caters to 1,500 in/outpatients every day. It has MRI, CT Scan and Nature Cure facilities and trauma hospital,” he said.
Minister Shivanand Patil who met the agitators said he was opposed to PPP model-based medical college and wondered why the government was thinking of it. He suggested that the new medical college be named after Banthanal Shivayogi Swami.
