Maharashtra cabinet announces new government medical colleges in 9 districts

NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra government in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, June 28, has given the nod to set up new government medical colleges in nine districts. Rs 4,366 crore has been earmarked for the new government medical colleges in the state. The new medical colleges will be set up in Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Buldhana, Washim, Wardha, Amravati, Jalna, Thane and Palghar districts.

Of the total 36 districts in Maharashtra, 23 of them have government medical colleges and with the cabinet nod to establish the new medical colleges in these nine districts would rise to 32.

Girish Mahajan, the state medical education minister in a social media post said: “A very important decision has been taken in the Cabinet meeting today through the Department of Medical Education. Permission has been given for new government colleges in 9 places in the state.”

आज कॅबिनेट बैठकीत अतिशय महत्वपूर्ण निर्णय वैद्यकीय शिक्षण खात्याच्या माध्यमातून घेण्यात आलेला आहे. राज्यात ९ ठिकाणी नवीन शासकीय महाविद्यालये यांना परवानगी देण्यात आलेली आहे. #CabinetDecisions #mahanirnay #Maharashtra #महाराष्ट्र pic.twitter.com/AX1E9YYVkx

— Girish Mahajan (@girishdmahajan) June 28, 2023

“The medical colleges will help in producing efficient and specialized doctors. This will not only help in providing timely treatments but also address the issue of shortages of doctors in the state,” he added.

In another development, the Maharashtra government on June 23 directed all self-financed universities to provide 50% exemption in tuition fees for students belonging to economically weaker sections (EWS). The decision was taken by the state government towards “ensuring educational accessibility and inclusivity for all”.

“Additionally, if the remaining students are to be exempted from tuition fees on the basis of financial weakness or other criteria, the decision will be taken at the level of the concerned university,” the official statement read.