THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will take up the issue of AIIMS status for Thiruvananthapuram Medical College with the Centre during his visit to New Delhi this week, Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy said here on Wednesday.

Replying to questions at a press conference here, the Minister said that the college had not figured in the first list of six institutions selected by the Centre for according the AIIMS status.

Subsequently, the list was expanded to 13 including Thiruvananthapuram Medical College under pressure from various States. As the allocations had spread thin, the Centre had decided to provide only development grant to some of the colleges. However, the State wanted AIIMS status.

Ms. Sreemathy said that Rs.20 lakhs would be allocated to the community health centres in the State under the National Rural Health Mission to achieve public health standards.

The Centre had sanctioned Rs.8.4 crores last year under the mission. However, this had not been used for various reasons. This year, Rs.12.8 cores had been sanctioned for 106 community health centres.

The programme was to be implemented by the panchayats with a view to achieving Indian Public Health Standards. This envisaged improved infrastructure and staff strength and availability of equipment and diagnostic facilities. State and district level missions would be formed immediately for this purpose.

She said that Rs.10,000 each would be allocated for improving the working of 5,094 sub-centres under the Popular Health Programme. The Government also proposed to carry out the Centrally sponsored Janani Suraksha Yojana in the State.

Under this scheme, poor mothers would be paid Rs.700 each for two live births at the time of delivery.

Women's Commission

The Minister said that the Government was examining the demand for reconstitution of the Women's Commission. "The Government has not taken a decision. But the appointment of the members will not be based on political considerations."

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