Government Dharamapuri Medical College, Dharamapuri

The newly-established Dharmapuri Government Medical College on the district headquarters hospital premises here is yet to be equipped with necessary facilities.

With the classes for the first batch of students expected to commence this month, the new college lacks learning equipment, hostels for boys and girls, residential quarters for college staff, library, furniture and various other important facilities.

Though the government has sanctioned over 90 new posts including faculty members for the college, over 75 per cent of vacancies are yet to be filled.

We have not even received chairs and tables. The hostels, which are going to function temporarily in the Tamil Nadu Housing Board's buildings, are not yet ready. The buildings do not even have proper water supply provisions, hospital sources point out.

Though the Medical Council of India had given its approval to start the institution two months ago, the State government was yet to create the facilities for the students, who are going to be admitted in the counselling sessions scheduled to be held in the second week of this month.

Currently, the college has a building to conduct classes. Tenders have been called for to construct more buildings for the college.

But the institution requires more facilities including laboratories for the effective functioning of various departments, people here point out.

Special Secretary, Health, Apoorva, who was here on Friday to review various works taken up in the college, however, promised that all the facilities would be established before the commencement of classes. "Steps have already been taken to fill the new posts through transfers," she said.

Meanwhile, the State government had transferred the College Dean, Dr. Kanagasabai, which, the hospital officials said, might cause delay in the works.

Courses Offered
(a) Under Graduate

* M.B.B.S. Medicine and Surgery