Imphal, July 20 2009: Health Minister Ph Parijat has expressed serious over whether the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) can commence its maiden session this year or not.

Speaking on the floor of the House during demand discussion today, Parijat conceded that the existing faculty of JNIMS is 18 percent short of the total required strength.

No eligible candidate responded to advertisements published for recruitment of eight Associate Professors.

No Surgery Professor could be inducted till date, the Health Minister disclosed.

While conveying that the State Government has been lobbying for commencement of the first session with intake capacity of just 50 seats this year itself, climbing down from the earlier proposal of 100 seats, Parijat confided "I'm still doubtful".

Nevertheless, he claimed that the State Government has been able to extend health care facilities to different parts of the State since 2006 .

With huge investment under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), large sections of the people have reaped the benefits, the launch of the Health Care Delivery System.

Though short of the target, the Department has been able to organise medical camps in remote areas, Parijat claimed.

Informing the House that the Department has started monitoring nursing schools after establishment of the Manipur Nursing Council in 2008, Parijat said that the Department is considering establishment of Dental Medical Council.

With successful implementation of the malaria control programme, the Government has succeeded in containing outbreak of malaria in the last two/three years.

The Government has also been working to launch AIDS control programmes this year after opening District AIDS Control and Prevention units.

Plans are also afoot to open four linked ART centres, Parijat said.

The Government is considering to raise emoluments entitled to ASHAs so that the public receive better health care.

To check further spread of German measles which broke out at Khurai area, children in the age group of 5-9 years would be vaccinated.

The Health Minister further informed the House that the Government has been studying to allow reimbursement for treatment in Shija Hospitals.

Responding to the discussion of demands, Chief Minister O Ibobi said that the Government would look into the feasibility of encompassing greater Imphal area in the urban infrastructure development programme.

The Government would see whether vendors without licence cannot be accommodated at the three market complexes being constructed at Khwairamband Keithel.

Imphal city which has been identified as a 'mission city' under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission would be handed over to Imphal Municipal Council for maintenance without depending on the Government once the construction and renovation works are completed, Ibobi said.

The Government would never supersede or subdue local bodies, he assured.

Noting that all local bodies except that of Jiribam have been plagued with problems, Ibobi said that the State Government has been extending grant of Rs 19 lakhs per month to Imphal Municipality after abolition of Octroi at the national level.

In addition to these Rs 19 lakhs, the IMC could collect Rs 6 lakhs every months in taxes which means the IMC is earning revenue of Rs 25 lakhs every months.

Observing that this amount would be enough to pay salaries of IMC staff, the Chief Minister expressed strong suspicion of making faulty appointments if the report that Rs 44 lakhs were needed to pay salaries was true.

Informing the House that amount for implementation of the first phase of Nambul river and Naga Nullah projects under JNURM has been released, Ibobi said that another Rs 3.4 crores have also been released to purchase 25 semi-floor buses.

Taking part in the discussion, Sericulture Minister L Jayantakumar said that anomalies and irregularities detected in civil works of Sericulture project have been rectified.

With the completion of phase-I, efforts are being made to initiate phase-II of the Sericulture project, he said.

Commerce and Industry Minister Y Erabot said that Deen Dayal Scheme has been launched in place of the Integrated Handloom Scheme for greater production of handloom products.

Opposition MLA Dr Ng Bijoy observed that measures taken up by the Govt for secondary health care were inadequate.

Radhabinod Koijam drew attention of the ruling bench towards the huge gap between income earned by the IMC and the expenditure it was making.

Opposition members O Joy, Morung Makunga, Radhabinod Koijam, Dr I Ibohalbi, Awangbow Newmai and RK Anand raised cut motions during discussion of the demands.

After due deliberation and withdrawal of the cut motions, four demands amounting to Rs 3601654000 were passed by the House.

The four demands passed today pertained to Medical, Health and Family Welfare; Municipal Administration, Housing and Urban Development; Commerce and Industry; and Sericulture.

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