Army Takeover of GMC Srinagar: Ministry considering proposal

Srinagar: The Uttarakhand Government’s proposal to the army for a take over of the administrative reins of the Government Medical College Srinagar is in all likelihood going to gain acceptance with the Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Minister on Sunday said the take over proposal by the Uttarakhand government would definitely be considered by the Ministry.

Speaking in a lighter vein the Minister said that retreating in the present circumstance would not be possible with the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and the Army Chief had already decided to visit Srinagar to survey the possibilities.

“The state deserves it...It will be great if a command hospital is planned to serve the people, ex-servicemen and their families in the upper regions of the hills with much advance medical facilities. The defence ministry will do everything possible in this regard,” she said.

The Army Chief, Gen Bipin Rawat is believed to have toured Srinagar, Garhwal on Sunday, accompanied by the Chief Minister after attending the Defence Minister’s program.

The Defence Minister was in Dehradun attending the felicitation ceremony of applicants from Uttarakhand who have been selected in the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy.

The selected applicants have been granted cheques worth Rs. 50,000 each by the state government The event hosted at the residence of the Chief Minister was also attended by Army Chief of Staff, General Bipin Rawat, among others.

Last week, during his visit to the city, the army chief had said, “The proposal (of taking over the medical college) is being deliberated upon. The army cannot take over the hospital’s administration in the present form. Some changes need to be made. We are in talks with the state government on this issue and things will be worked out.”

The state government last year had forwarded the take over proposal to the army with a view that it would improve medical services being rendered in the region. The proposal did not get implemented as the centre did not pick it up instantaneously.

The Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat picked up the threads again saying he would take it up once again with both the army and the Centre.

The state government has issued cheques worth ₹50,000 to each of them. The event was organised at the chief minister’s residence and also attended by army chief General Bipin Rawat, among others.

Last week, during his Dehradun visit, the army chief had said, “The proposal (of taking over the medical college) is being deliberated upon. The army cannot take over the hospital’s administration in the present form. Some changes need to be made. We are in talks with the state government on this issue and things will be worked out,” reported the HT.

Last year, the state government approached the army to take over the administration of GMC in Srinagar, stating that this will boost the quality of medical facilities in the region.

The move, however, could not be materialised as the Centre did not show much interest in it.

Recently, Chief Minister, Trivendra Singh Rawat said he would again pursue the proposal and hold fresh talks with the army chief and the Centre on this.