177 years on, Goa may get another medical college
Panaji, Sep 5: Over one-and-half centuries after a medical college, one of the first in Asia, was started in then Portuguse-ruled Goa, the coastal state may get another school for doctors.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Thursday that the government was considering a proposal to start a second medical college at Margao in South Goa district, attached to the upcoming district hospital.
The process to set up the college will start only when Chief Minister Pramod Sawant gives his nod, he added.
The existing Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), located at Bambolim near Panaji in North Goa, was established in 1842.
The college churns out 150 MBBS graduates every year.
"A new college will help us get more MBBS seats and more doctors," Rane said.
The new college would be independent of the GMCH.
"We will take a call on whether it would be a government or a private medical college," the minister added.
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'One Nation, One Poll' bill tabled in Lok Sabha; Opposition calls for withdrawal
New Delhi: The government introduced two constitutional amendment bills in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday to pave the way for implementing the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal. The bills, aimed at synchronising Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections, were tabled by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. Following the introduction, sources indicated that the legislation might be referred to a joint parliamentary committee for further consultation. As the single largest party, the BJP is expected to chair the committee and hold the majority of seats.
The move triggered sharp reactions from opposition parties, who criticised the proposal as anti-democratic. Congress leader Manish Tewari described the bill as "beyond the legislative competence of the House" and demanded its immediate withdrawal. Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav warned that it marked "a path to dictatorship," while Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee accused the government of undermining the independence of state legislatures.
Defending the proposal, the government argued that frequent elections disrupt governance, create policy paralysis, and lead to financial and administrative burdens. It asserted that synchronised elections would streamline the electoral process and foster stability in governance. The proposal stems from the recommendations of a panel led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which submitted its report in September.
The bills propose linking the tenure of state Assemblies to the Lok Sabha, ensuring that state elections align with parliamentary polls. Assemblies elected after 2029 will see their terms end with that of the Lok Sabha, facilitating synchronised elections from 2034 onwards. Provisions related to Union Territories, including Puducherry, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir, are also part of the amendments.
Despite the government’s justifications, opposition parties remain firm in their resistance. The Congress and Trinamool Congress labelled the initiative as an “anti-federal” move, alleging it threatens India’s democratic structure.
