Jaipur, Nov 25 (IANS) Five new medical colleges, to be set up in Hanumangarh, Dausa, Tonk, Sawai Madhopur and Jhunjhunu of Rajasthan, have been sanctioned by the central government under the Centre-sponsored scheme and Rs 325 crore grant has been approved for each medical college.

"With this, the total number of medical colleges in the state will increase to 31. In the past 11 months, we have been sanctioned 15 new medical colleges, which is a big achievement," said Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma.

"Of the 33 districts, medical colleges have been sanctioned in 30 districts," he said.

At the time of Independence, Rajasthan had only one medical college, he added.

--IANS arc/pcj