JEDDAH, 27 June — Work on the MES medical college project, which is estimated to cost 700 million rupees, will start within a month, according to Dr. P.A. Fazal Ghafoor, general secretary of the Muslim Educational Society in Kerala.
He said the college including a 500-bed hospital will start functioning by July next year. MES has bought 48.5 acres of land in Perinthalmanna, about 40 km from Calicut Airport, for the project. “We have already prepared the construction plan and are waiting for approval from the authorities to start the project,” he added.
The MES chief said the funds required for the project would be raised by the organization from its units within and outside Kerala, especially those in the Gulf.
The college will provide admission to 100 girls and boys in the first phase, which will be completed at an estimated cost of 200 million rupees. The project will take five years to complete and will include separate hostels for boys and girls.
MES, a non-profit organization established in 1964, at present runs 10 government-recognized arts and science and engineering colleges apart from several higher secondary schools. “Ours is the only engineering college in the souther Indian state of Kerala which has got a ISO 9002 certificate,” he said.
Ghafoor highlighted MES’ efforts in promoting education among Kerala Muslims, especially women. This year alone the organization opened five CBSE schools. MES provides scholarships worth three million rupees every year to talented and deserving students.
He disclosed that the state government was offering seats at professional colleges to foreign students charging a fee of $7,000 for a four-year course. “This is a highly competitive fee by all standards,” he added.
He said MES’ success story had encouraged Muslim groups in other parts of India to work for the educational uplift of the community by opening colleges and other educational institutions.
