Balasore, Sept. 18: Residents here are all set to launch a multi-pronged protest to demand upgrade of the district headquarters hospital and setting up of a government medical college.

“During the Assembly’s winter session, we will take out a march in the district headquarters while a motorcycle rally will travel from Balasore to Bhubaneswar. The committee will also submit a memorandum to chief minister Naveen Patnaik,” said Niranjan Parida, organising secretary of the Government Medical College and Hospital Action Committee.

The committee, a body representing people from all walks of life, will intensify the movement by involving more people and ensuring participation of elected representatives.

“The committee has prepared a 12-point programme. Apart from pressing for our long-standing demand for the medical college, we demand upgrade of facilities in the headquarters hospital with adequate infrastructure and posting of specialists at all the major departments,” said Parida.

The district has been witnessing agitations, demanding setting up of a government medical college and hospital for the past seven years. Different organisations, associations and institutions have submitted a list of surplus government lands available in their respective areas required for the proposed medical college and hospital.

“So far, the agitations have been peaceful. We would continue our democratic agitation till fulfilment of our demand. We expect all elected representatives cutting across the political lines to throw their support to the cause,” said committee president Baidyanath Sarangi.

“A delegation will meet the Union health minister and apprise him of the requirement of medical college in the district. We will also meet the state health minister,” he said.

Though the state has three government colleges for central, southern and western zones, the northern region does not have such facility.