Asked how the committee views the apprehensions of the Group-C and D employees that they would loose many of their privileges, Mr. Digvijay Singh said the committee would recommend inclusion of representatives of these employees in the governing body, which would run the institute if the autonomy was granted.

“Their apprehensions on salary cut and benefits are unfounded. In fact, they would be drawing more salary,” he noted.The committee would recommend continuation of the free treatment at the hospital. “However, it was a norm that those above poverty line pay for their treatment in all Government hospitals. Even All India Institute of Medical Sciences charges for treatments. Maybe they don’t charge the doctors’ fee, but definitely charge for costly diagnoses and surgeries that need implants, and the rich have to pay a minimum.”

The committee would give far-reaching suggestions to make the hospital a pioneer in specialty treatment, he pointed out. During the last two days, the committee met the students, faculty, representatives of political parties and members of the JIPMER Autonomy People’s Committee. While the Congress, the DMK, the PMK and the CPI were not opposed to the bill, the members impressed the committee on the need to continue with the free treatment for the poor and reservation given to students from the territory.

The CPI has specifically recommended to include the Union Territory’s Health Minister as ex-officio members of the governing body and three MLA’s as its members. However, the CPM, the AIADMK and the BJP, which formed the JIPMER Autonomy People’s Committee to oppose the autonomy, wanted to maintain states quo. Similarly, the Group C and D staffs, which constitute majority of the JIPMER employees, were opposed to the move.

T. Murugan, the CPI (M) leader and president of Autonomy People’s Committee, said the draft bill was silent on the continuation of free treatment. It was unfair to compare the AIIMS with the JIPMER, as the social status of patients was entirely different. “It’s only the poor who get treatment in the JIPMER. We don’t understand what they mean by charging the rich. It’s only a ploy to do away with the free treatment policy,” he said.

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