Bengaluru, May 18: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has given a green signal for establishing an All India Institute Of Medical Science (AIIMS) in Karnataka, state Health Minister K Sudhakar said on Wednesday.

The assurance was given during a meeting between Sudhakar and Mandaviya in New Delhi.

"I thank our beloved Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya ji for assuring an AIIMS for Karnataka. This will greatly benefit the state and further enhance the state's health and medical education," Sudhakar said.

Karnataka had earlier submitted a request to the Union government to start an AIIMS in the state to enhance public healthcare and medical education infrastructure, his office said in a statement.

The Minister also said a DPR (Detailed Project Report) for a new National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS) poly trauma centre and PG institute has been submitted to the Standing Finance Committee (SFC).

Once approved, the new institute will come up at Kyalasanahalli near Hennur Main Road in Bengaluru.

Initially, the Karnataka government had submitted a proposal to the SFC for the construction of a medical college in 2021. However, the SFC had asked the government to focus on NIMHANS expertise in PG training. The new 538 bed institute is set to come up in three years at a cost of Rs 489 crore.

Sudhakar also submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister regarding opening a separate state level university for nursing and allied health sciences to ensure quality and professionalism, PPP model for administration of hospitals, special curriculum and training of in-service doctors in hospital management.

Also, priority for domicile students in deemed universities, extending the Centre's assistance to establish medical colleges in all districts irrespective of whether it has a private medical college or not, stringent norms to ensure world-class food safety and standards, and flexibility in leveraging the National Health Mission to address state-specific and region-specific health challenges.

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Bengaluru, Aug 14 (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said there was a “conspiracy” to tarnish the image of Dharmasthala.

His comments come amid an ongoing investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into serious allegations of mass burials in the revered temple town in Dakshina Kannada district.

“A conspiracy is being hatched to destroy hundreds of years of legacy. It is not correct to tarnish someone just like that. It has all happened due to one complainant,” he said.

Noting that some Congress MLAs have called for action against those involved in the slander campaign at the legislature party meeting, he said, “ I have told them that action must be taken against those who are indulging in a slander campaign. The CM has also said that action must be taken against such people.”

“I have information on this case. Religious feelings should not be hurt in any manner. Culprits must be punished,” he told reporters, according to a release from his office.

Responding to a question, Shivakumar said the Congress party will not allow the image of any religious place to be tarnished.

“We see everyone equally when it comes to religion,” he added.

The SIT, formed by the state government, is probing claims of mass murder, rape, and mass burials in Dharmasthala over the past two decades.

The complainant, a former sanitation worker whose identity has not been revealed, alleged that between 1995 and 2014 he was forced to handle bodies—including women and minors—and that some showed signs of sexual assault. He has given a statement before a magistrate.

As part of the probe, the SIT has been conducting exhumations at multiple locations identified by the complainant-witness in the forested areas along the banks of the Netravathi River in Dharmasthala, where some skeletal remains have been found at two sites so far.

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