Medical education in West Bengal

Medical Council of India has cancelled large number of seats for Admission to Medical stream in West Bengal. The basic reason advanced is lack of proper infrastructure. State Govt. should take immediate steps in this regard to improve the infrastructure in Medical Colleges. New Campuses out of the City limits be developed as there is space constraint in existing Colleges. Private sector should be encouraged to set up Medical Colleges too. They should come forward to meet the need for medical professionals in their hospitals. This will go a long way in improving the number of students intake for medical. This is important for the students and society, as the number of medical professionals in the society is extremely low. 

Further, State should also pitch in for Central Institutions like AIIMS in North Bengal apart from Kalyani.

Autonomy to Colleges to decide for courses they offer

Media is now busy with tussle between UGC and DU. While UGC wants three-year degree course, Delhi University is adamant on four-year course. Delhi University management is taking the excuse of autonomy. In a country, where we cannot ensure uniform education at primary level, we are fighting for uniform degree course. We should rather allow DU to offer Four-year degree course, provided they offer the option of three-year degree course to students. Let the students and colleges decide about the course instead of UGC or University imposing its will on 65 affiliated colleges.

Solar power in remote places

Solar panels are suggested on running trains for generating electricity for in-coach consumption. Railway Engineers are not convinced as it will be difficult to fix the solar panel on rail roofs due to strong vibrations.

But the solar panels can be set up on the static structures like stations. Railway stations in remote places need transmission lines for supply of electricity. Solar panels in those places can be economical and provide the light in the station complex.

This can be tried in places like Sagar islands in West Bengal, Mazuli in Assam and Bhavani Islands in Vijaywada.

Multiple service providers for electricity is need of the hour

We have seen a revolution after multiple service providers for mobile telephony. Time has come to repeat the performance in electricity through multiple service providers. At present, we already have separate agencies for generation, transmission and distribution of power. There is no need for monopoly. Though we have seen large number of independent power producers. There are few independent power transmission or distribution agencies. We must review the sector to encourage new players to the sector. Enough competition in this sector will improve the efficiency in this sector enormously.

Urban facilities at block levels

India is a large country and some of the inhabitations are very small and providing the basic facilities there is almost not feasible. In such cases, we can make provisions of basic necessities at block level. We have to ensure that bus stand, school, healthcare centre, bank, market, entertainment centre is avaliable at one place. This will help to attract teachers, healthcare workers, banker etc. at the place, because every person want a decent accommodation, schooling for his children, healthcare in case of ailment, market for obtaining daily needs and above all recreation facilities. All these activities are interlinked and we need to provide them at one place instead of scattered places. If these basic facilities are available at one place, the people from nearby villages will also come to that place, making market itself viable.