The government would consider the provision of some concession in the fees for the government medical college students hailing from poor families and having red colour ration cards and those who studied in government schools, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy told the legislative assembly on July 19.

He said this to a suggestion from Speaker V Vaithilingam in this regard during question hour. Replying to a question from members, the Chief Minister said that as many as 140 posts including that of Senior Specialists and Specialist doctors are vacant at the government general hospital here. The doctors are to be appointed by the UPSC. However, doctors on contract basis are working with the hospital and steps are being taken to fill up the posts of nurses through direct recruitment, the Chief Minister said.

He said as per an agreement with the Frontier Life Line hospital Chennai, as many as 190 heart operations were performed here in which only four had died. He said a sum of Rs 83,000 is being provided for an operation while it would cost Rs 2 to 4.5 lakhs in private hospitals. During the course of discussion, AIADMK member Anbazhagan drew the attention of the government on the indefinite strike and dharna by the government medical college students to press for the reduction of enhanced fees.

He said when the college was started it was free education and a student will have to remit only Rs 10,000. However, now Rs 1.35 lakh is to be paid by the students towards their tuition fees. With several members irrespective of their party affiliation wanted to reduce the fees, Speaker wondered whether the students started their agitation after informing anyone of their grievances. Staging an agitation straightaway and coming on the road could not be justified, he said Chief Minister could consider giving some concession to the students from families having red colour ration card and those who studied in government schools.