The Veer Surendra Sai Medica College and Hospital (VSS MCH) at Burla in Sambalpur district has earned the distinction of being the first medical institution in the State to get the status of a unitary university along with full autonomy and a changed name and style.
This was decided at the State Cabinet on Thursday held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Chief Secretary JK Mohapatra said that in order to achieve excellence in the field of medical education, research and health care, the Cabinet approved the proposal of the Health and Family Welfare department to convert the VSS Medical College and Hospital into a unitary State university. The proposed university will be in the name and style of ‘Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research.’
Mohapatra said that the State Government would bring a bill in the State legislature in the coming Session to enable the medical college to get the status of a university to enjoy required academic, financial and administrative autonomy.
The Cabinet also approved the proposal for framing of the Odisha Medical Services (Dental) Rules -2013 for the first time under the Health and Family Welfare department in order to avail the services of the meritorious and deserving dental surgeons through a uniform selection process by way of fair competitive selection and provide better dental healthcare services to the people.
The OMSD Rules -2013 would enable the Government to regulate recruitment and condition of service of dental surgeons in Group-A (Junior) and Group –A (senior) in the district headquarters hospitals, Sub-Divisional headquarters hospitals, Community Health Centers, RGH, Rourkela and Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar.
The Cabinet approved sanction of lease of Government land measuring 2 acres each in Ambapua under Brahmapur tehsil of Ganjam district and at Ganeswarpur village under Remuna tehsil of Baleswar district in favour of Hyderabad Eye Institute, Bhubaneswar, a unit of lV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, for establishment of Eye Care Centers in both the places on payment of 20 per cent land premium of the total costs. The Cabinet also approved sanction of 134.07 acres of land at Rourkela free of premium in favour of Biju Patnaik University of Technology for its campus.
The Cabinet discussed and approved as many as 20 issues in the agenda including framing of the Odisha Group-C and Group-D posts Contractual Appointment rules-123 which contained the new recruitment policy for the posts.
The Cabinet also approved the proposal to amend to the Odisha Ministerial Services (Method of Recruitment to the posts of Junior Clerks in the Districts Offices) Rules, 1985. As per the amended rules, the recruitment shall be conducted centrally by the Odisha Sub-Ordinate Staff Selection Commission. The qualification for entry into the District level Ministerial posts has been enhanced from High School Certificate to Plus II. The Cabinet amended the Odisha Transport –Traffic and Enforcement (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) rules declaring the Odisha Staff Selection Commission as recruiting authority for the posts of Traffic Constable being a State Cadre.