THIRD LEAD

Suraj | JUNE 16, 2015, 12:00 AM IST

BOX

PIC: GMC

'SICK' INFRASTRUCTURE

* Recently, an MCI team visited GMC and found the infrastructure to be inadequate.

* Classrooms were not found to be spacious enough to accommodate 150 students.

* The DTE is now awaiting MCI's next visit to Goa in expectation of a positive result.

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THE GOAN Network

PANJIM: Contrary to Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar's belief of bagging another 50 more seats from its present capacity of 150 at the Goa Medical College (GMC), the Medical Council of India (MCI) is seriously mulling downsizing its share to 100. Reason: Lack of adequate infrastructure at the apex hospital in the State. It was only two years ago that the number of seats at the GMC were hiked to 150 from 100 at the state's behest.

On Monday, medical seat aspirants were in for a rude shock to see a merit list of only 85 eligible candidates being released by the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) for the academic session 2015-16 as against the quota of 128 in previous two years.

"GMC seats were increased to 150 from 100 two years ago. After an increase in seats, the MCI monitors the facilities at the institute for the first six years. Recently, an MCI team visited GMC and found the infrastructure to be inadequate," an official source said.

Following the inspection, the GMC dean was informed in writing about the possibility of seats being cut down to 100 if MCI's infrastructure requirements were not immediately met and that Goa would be allowed to offer only 100 seats to students, of which 85 are state quota.

"The classrooms at GMC were not found to be spacious enough to accommodate 150 students. After an increase in seats, it is expected that beds at the medical college are also increased accordingly," the source said.

The GMC Dean informed the directorate on Friday of the MCI's communication and it was later decided that a merit list of only 85 students for medicine be released as of now.

"Another visit by the MCI team is expected shortly and if Goa officials are able to show that they have the necessary classes to accommodate 150 students, chances are that Goa will be allowed to fill a quota of 128 state seats as done in the last two years. But this permission would come with certain conditions to be fulfilled before the next academic year," the source said.

The DTE is now awaiting MCI's next visit in expectation of a positive result. But the parents and students are understandably anxious. "It is unfair to us. In the year when our child is seeking admission the seats have been abruptly reduced. It is a tremendous loss for our child," an agonised parent said.

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