Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 30 (IANS): Minister of State (independent charge) Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya Tuesday said his ministry has decided to exit from running ESI Medical Colleges as it was not their core area.

Speaking to reporters here, Dattatreya said: "We have requested the state governments to take over the running of these medical colleges."

"We require around Rs.80 crore to meet the annual expenses of one college and this goes from the money that we need to spend on our workers," he added.

He held detailed discussions here with State Minister of Labour Shibu Baby John and top officials of the state and central labour departments.

"We have spent Rs.321.50 crore in the ESI Medical College near Kollam and another Rs.218.50 crore is required. We have told the Kerala government that they can take it over," he added.

John said: "Once we receive their detailed proposal, the state government will sit down and work out what can be done."

Dattatreya said the procedures have been relaxed now and the newly appointed state committee can take decisions on running the Employees State Insurance Corporation Medical Colleges which are present across the country. Earlier, sanctions had to come from Delhi.