Odisha seeks a NIMHANS like institution in Cuttack

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha government today urged the Centre to facilitate setting up a NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences) like institution in the state.

In a letter to Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that in order to upgrade the facilities for mental health and neuro sciences in Odisha, a proposal was submitted to the Centre in August, 2012 for establishing one NIMHANS like institution at Cuttack.

"The proposed institution will be extremely beneficial not only for people of Odisha, also of the entire Eastern region," Patnaik said in his letter. Patnaik said the state has identified the required land for this project at Cuttack.

"We also understand that P Satish Chandra, Director, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences after visiting the proposed site and assessing the facilities available with Mental Health Institute, SCB Medical College & Hospital, Cuttack has also informed Union Government about the feasibility of setting up of such an institute in Odisha," Patnaik pointed out in the letter to the Union Minister.