About 35,000 students aspiring to be doctors from the state took the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) this year. In the state, however, we have only 800 seats (650 for MBBS and 150 for BDS). Considering that 85 per cent seats will be filled up through domicile quota, how will the state address the growing aspirations of the students? Besides, there is also a shortage of doctors in the state.

We are concerned about shortage of doctors. About 19 medical colleges are going to come up in the state in government, public and private sectors. Of these, five will be government colleges. This is going to happen after a gap of 55 years ... VSS Medical College in Sambalpur was the last one to be set up.

Government medical colleges will be set up in Puri, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Balangir and Koraput this time. Once all these colleges are set up by 2017-18, the number of medical seats in the state will go up by 3,000. Efforts are on to find the faculty for the proposed new medical colleges. We have also approached the central government to enhance postgraduate seats in the government medical colleges by another 270. Their number is 354 now. We have increased the retirement age of doctors so that people do not suffer because of shortage of doctors.

The Medical Council of India (MCI) this year has slashed the number of MBBS seats in the SCB Medical College from 250 to 150 due to lack of infrastructure and has not allowed Sardar Rajas Medical College to admit students...

Yes.... We are worried. We have already raised the issue at the appropriate level. Out of the 16 queries, the MCI had raised about SCB Medical College, we have answered 14. The chief minister has written a letter to the union health minister on the issue. We have also informed the MCI about our plans to upgrade the three government medical colleges with an investment of Rs 504 crore. We are hopeful of a positive response. We are also worried about the fate of Sardar Rajas Medical College in Kalahandi. The MCI is yet to accord approval for 100 medical seats for this college.

Your department has come under severe criticism for allowing blood banks to sell the blood plasma. What's your take?

People had a wrong perception that we were selling blood. The blood plasma will be of no use after two years. We have decided to sell surplus blood plasma available with the blood banks. Earlier, blood plasma worth crores of rupees used to get wasted. As per the norms, blood plasma can be stored for one year at -45°C and for two years at -80°C. After that, it will be of no use. We have decided to sell it so that the money generated from the sale could be used for the improvement of blood banks. Because of the criticism, we have now deferred our plan. The issue needs a wider debate.

Being the head of the health department, what is your response to the kidney racket which was exposed in Cuttack by police?

I disagree with you that a kidney racket is operating in the state. The incidents pertain to private donors and their recipients. The police are investigating the matter. We have decided to streamline the entire process of donation. We have asked the director of medical education and training to go for a video-recording of the entire proceedings of the counselling to ensure complete transparency.

What are the plans to boost the health sector?

Free distribution of medicine scheme will soon be introduced. The building for the upcoming Odisha State Medical Corporation will come up near the Ram Mandir Square in Bhubaneswar by the end of July. In the first phase, generic medicine will be available at 38 places including all the 32 district headquarter hospitals, three medical colleges campus, Achrya Harihar Institute and Sishubhvan. Later, it will be extended to all the 376 health centres. We will keep a computer data-base of generic medicines being given to the patients. The doctors who don't prescribe generic medicines will be taken to task. A wider consultation in this regard is going on. Once a unanimous decision is reached, it will be implemented.

How do you react to the allegation that the government-run 108 ambulances were used for election purposes by the ruling party?

I have not received a single such complaint. You must be happy to note that the 108 ambulance service has been a huge success. It receives nearly 22,000 calls every day. Of these, we are attending nearly 1,800 calls per day. It is a stupendous success. Soon, we are going to launch 102 ambulance service for expectant mothers and infants.

Often, there are reports about medicines meant for government health centres are being thrown away or dumped. In Tangi this week, people found medicines being dumped outside.

Yes. We are aware of it. We will supply medicine on the basis of the requirements of the health centres. The entire process will be computerised. We will keep track of the movement of medicines and their expiry dates. Accountability and responsibility will be fixed. Money will be recovered from the concerned officials if medicines are destroyed or dumped. We will not allow wastage of public money.

You are also the state relief commissioner. What is the state government's preparedness for possible natural calamities during the monsoon?

We have learnt a lot from the 1999 super cyclone. Now, the state machinery is fully geared up to face any eventuality. I have already held two meetings to review preparedness. The chief secretary also held a review meeting. The chief minister chaired the last preparatory meeting. The district-level preparedness committees have already completed their work. We have opened a 24X7 control room that will operate till November 30. We are focusing on strengthening embankments with sand bags and bamboo barricades. We have stored adequate materials. We have excellent manpower in the form of disaster management force to face any natural calamity.

But what will happen if the monsoon fails and there is deficient rainfall?

We are in constant touch with the Indian Meteorological Department. This month, the rainfall has so far been 64 per cent less than normal. The director of the regional centre of the Indian Meteorological Department has informed that there will be rains in the state after June 29. In case of shortage of rain, the agriculture department is prepared to help farmers with alternative crops. The chief minister has discussed the issue with officials 20 days ago.

Did the state get enough assistance from the Centre to meet the situation arising out of Phailin that hit the state last year?

No.... Justice has not been done to us. We had demanded Rs 5,842 crore. But, the Centre has released only Rs 750 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund. Anther Rs 250 crore was released from the State Disaster Response Fund, which was our due share. Now, we have demanded that the money against the actual bills should be reimbursed. Towards supply of food grains, we had submitted a bill of Rs 372 crore, but we got only Rs 32 crore. Similarly, against a bill of Rs 485 crore against input subsidy to farmers, we received only Rs 25 crore. Against a bill of Rs 62 crore for providing temporary shelters to people, we are yet to receive any money.

You must be feeling helpless....

No. We are trying hard to get more money at least against the actual bills. After our persistent request, the Centre has assured to review our demand again. It has raised our hope that we will get more money.

You were the chief administrator of the Shree Jagannath temple. What is your opinion on the controversy over devotees being barred from climbing the chariots?

(Pauses) I am not holding the post anymore, so I would not like to comment.