Three new medical colleges one each at Palamu, Hazaribag and Dumka will now have 100 seat admission in the first year course. Earlier, these three medical colleges had only 85 seats out of the intake capacity of 100.

15 seats here were of the Central quota in each of these colleges. Now, the Central quota 15 seats have been merged with the State quota here in Jharkhand.

State Health, Medical education & Family Welfare minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi said, “The Union Health Ministry was petitioned by us to merge 15 Central quota seats with State quota in these three new medical colleges and the Union Government merged the Central quota with the state quota enabling these 3 new medical colleges to take 100 admissions in the first year every academic session.”

The enhancement of seats from 85 to 100 now in these three new med colleges has the sanction of the MCI, Delhi. Jyoti Ranjan Prasad principal of the Palamu medical college located at Pokhraha around 7 Kms away from Daltonganj said the merger of 15 central quota seats with state quota has helped us to take admission ( till date) of 93 eligible candidates.

Prasad said at the time of induction on September 11 there were just 70 admissions but after this grand merger 23 new admissions took place.

Rooms for boys and girls in their respective hostels for first 70 admitted ones have been allotted and inmates have occupied their berths in the rooms while for 23 new admitted ones the college is waiting for them to report for the allotment of rooms in the hostels added Prasad.

Sources said teaching has made a limping start in this medical college here. Teaching in bio chemistry subject continues to be a non starter as there is neither any tutor nor any assistant professor in this subject here. Principal confirming this ‘zero’ teaching faculty in bio chemistry said efforts are on to rope in tutor or assistant professor in this subject. Prasad said, “We have two teachers in physiology, one in preventive community medicine and one associate professor in  M Nath is expected to join anatomy department here, which is  our teaching gallery.”

Asked about the attendance of students Prasad said, “It is most encouraging as with the lot of 70 admitted we found about half a dozen admitted students absenting who will be counseled not to keep away from their classes.”He said, “Let the 23 new ones come and get rooms and see what percentage of attendance is here.”