Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Minister of State (Health & Family Welfare) S P Singh Baghel on Wednesday formally inaugurated Saheed Rendo Majhi Medical College and Hospital (SRMMCH) at Bhawanipatna in Odisha’s Kalahandi district.
Baghel attended the event via video conferencing. State Health Minister Niranjan Pujari and Kalahandi MP Basanta Panda were also present.
The SRMMCH, spread over an area of 43 acre, has been built with an investment of Rs 531 crore. At present, 22 departments are functioning at the institute with a strength of 49 teaching faculty and 38 senior residents and tutors, informed Health Secretary Shalini Pandit.
The first batch of 100 MBBS students admitted to the college in academic year 2023-2024 were also present on the occasion. “These students have come from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Bihar, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Odisha. 41 among are from Odisha,” Pandit added.
Following the inauguration, the students also interacted with the dignitaries and shared their experiences.
Baghel spoke about the transformation of Kalahandi from “land of hunger” to its present state and advised the students to devote some time to serve the tribals of the area in their spare time.
Notably, the central government in 2020 approved establishment of the medical college & hospital in the district. The state government decided to name this MCH after Saheed Rendo Majhi, a tribal leader and the most prominent freedom fighter from the Kalahandi region, in June this year.
With this, the number of government medical colleges and hospitals in the state has gone up to 11.
