Govt approves 6 AIIMS-like institutes

The government on Thursday night decided to set up six AIIMS-like institutions in 'under-served' states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan and Uttaranchal at a total capital cost of Rs 1,992 crore (Rs 19.92 billion).

An approval to this effect was given at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi.

Each of these institutions would consist of 850-bedded hospitals providing medical treatment in 39 speciality and super-speciality disciplines, Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters.

"A Group of Ministers would be set up to look into how best to fund and manage these institutions to make them truly equivalent to AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences)," he said, adding that here should not be any further delay in establishing these institutes.

"Construction will start in 2006-07 itself," he said, adding that the scheme was likely to be implemented in three years time.

The state governments concerned would provide 100 acres of developed land free of cost and other infrastructural facilities like water, power, road connectivity for setting up and running these institutions, Chidambaram said.

The institutes would also provide undergraduate medical education with 100 intake capacity per year and PG/doctoral courses as per the norms of the Medical Council of India.

Govt reviews prices of essential commodities

The government has reviewed the prices of essential commodities like wheat, sugar and potato, which were showing an upward trend even as Finance Minister P Chidambaram said inflation was moderate.

Briefing reporters after the Cabinet Committee on Prices (CCP) reviewed the situation, Chidambaram said prices of wheat had been moderate in the north, while in south 500,000 tonnes of imported wheat was about to reach the market and this should check the hardening prices of the commodity.

On sugar, he said the prices of the commodity were high internationally. However, the production is likely to be very high this year, he added. Chidambaram said the Food Ministry was looking at releasing more sugar and convert free-sale sugar to levy sugar.

The government would also "strictly monitor" sugar mills to see that they comply with the mandatory levy quota for the public distribution system.

Recently, there were reports some mills in the northern region had not been complying with the quota.

Asked whether unseasonal rains could have an impact on the crops, he said it was not the case. "There is not likely to be any damage due to this. In fact, as per an assessment, it may have helped the crops."

The finance minister, however, refused to comment on the prices of potato.

On inflation, he said: "I believe it is moderate."