Proposed Venkateswara Medical University in Berhampur by Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham: A victim of State inefficiency

Excerpt of the interview of HH Jayendra Saraswathi where he speaks about the proposed Medical University in Berhampur city

Q: We understood that the Sri Math is establishing Medical Universities in Orissa and Nepal. What is the progress in this respect?

Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal (JSS): The Government of Orissa has consented to give sufficient space for the construction of a hospital in Berhampur. There will be a similar hospital in Pondicherry too. The hospitals constructed in these places will grow up into Universities in the years to come.

(Link: http://archives.chennaionline.com/festivalsnreligion/articles/jayendra.asp)

RP Tripathy

         The proposed Medical University at Berhampur by Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham (the Kanchi Mutt runs the Shankar Eye Hospital in Chennai, which is one of the largest medical facilities in India), the project which started in 1996 with former Prime Minister and Member of Parliament from Berhampur Shri PV Narasimha Rao taking keen interest in the project, still remains incomplete as the state government has not given it suitable land for the purpose. The Chief Minister of Orissa and the Kanchi seer laid the foundation stone for the Super specialty hospital near Berhampur University in 2002 and it was found out to be a hillock, not suitable for Medical College and inadequate for future expansion. Seven years into the foundation laying the state government seems to be least bothered about the project more because of political reasons. The fact that southern region of the state will get better medical facility should have convinced the government to expedite its establishment but so far it has only created hurdles for the medical project and the trust may finally move to a different location.