Nervous signs are on the rise, with last week for admissions for 2015-16 around the corner, and the state-run Kaviraj Ananta Tripathy Sharma Ayurved Mahavidyalaya at Ankushapur still struggling to get a nod from the Centre. The college offers Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) course. The admission process is normally completed by October 31 every year.
According to college Principal AN Padhy, the Centre has left the college in a baffled state. It has neither denied, nor granted permission for admission to the 30 seats, hence leaving the aspirants anxious. The health secretary has reportedly drawn up the issue with the Centre.
The Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), which takes decisions on admissions,had formed a 3-member panel which had visited the college in February. Padhy quoted that during the hearing on September 14, they had provided all documents and information to the panel. The AYUSH department was supposed to permit or deny admissions in the college, basis the report of this panel.
Earlier in 2011, the department of AYUSH had refused permission to the college to carry out admission in 5 "½ year BAMS course due to shortage of faculty. However, the college had been receiving conditional go-ahead for the past 3 years.
The CCIM requirement states the necessity of 27 teaching faculty, including 12 professors and readers. On the other hand, the college has 26 teachers - 11 professors and readers and 15 lecturers. To fulfil the gap, one professor has been hired already on contractual basis, but he hasn't joined as yet. As per the college principal, The AYUSH panel is well acquainted with this fact.
The college authorities are fully confident of their infrastructure to conduct the programme. Moreover, Rs 5.9Cr has been endorsed by the government for infrastructural development of the college.