Rourkela: The absence of basic facilities has hit hard the Utkalmani Homeopathy Government Medical College here.

In 1994, the state government had taken over the college set up in 1975. It has an intake capacity of 25 students for the five-and-a-half years course . "This is a big blot on Utkalmani, in whose name the college was set up," said a student.

The college is established on seven-and-a-half acres. But, there is almost no boundary wall.

"After pursuing local officials of the works department and others, a boundary wall has been constructed on only 70 metres on the campus," said principal R.K. Panda.

He said soon funds would be allotted for the completion of the rest of the boundary wall.

This apart, a 100-bed ladies' hostel is awaiting completion.

Rourkela Development Authority chairman Sarada Prasad Nayak said: "I'm trying to arrange funds for the hostel. I have received some concrete assurances and hope that the work would begin shortly."

The girl students said they were not feeling safe, as there was no boundary wall on the campus, though the ladies' hostel has a compound wall.

However, the 25-bed indoor hospital, which was started a couple of years back, has insufficient staff members. For the indoor patients, the college is getting aid for food from the Red Cross.

"The hospital has been facing severe manpower crunch. We only have 12 teaching staff members against sanctioned strength of 36," said Panda.

In six departments - pathology, physiology, obstetrics & gynecology and homeopathy philosophy - there are no staff members," said the principal.