Jammu Ayurvedic College still being run on crutches
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Dec 7: Though started way back in 2017 with a big bang, the much talked about Jammu Ayurveda College is still running on crutches due to official apathy.
The College is not only facing the faculty shortage but throwing all laid down norms and rules to winds, as the Government during last about one decade has failed to post a full-fledged and qualified Principal from Ayurveda in the Jammu Ayurvedic College.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
According to sources, posting of a Principal heading the institute from the Allopathic System of Medicines is totally against the National Commission of Indian System of Medicines (NCISM) Act. Since its inception the Principal heading the GMC Jammu has been given the additional charge of Ayurvedic College, Jammu and he submits all proposals to Government. But when he is an outsider and does not know anything about Ayurveda how he can do justice to Ayurvedic system of medicines, they added.
Sources said the qualified doctors having qualification as well as experience and fulfilling other criteria to head the College have been posted in far-flung areas. They are not being considered for the post and their talent is not being utilised by the authorities just to benefit some blue eyed boys, sources added.
The rules in the Act were being violated to such an extent that earlier a doctor having degree in Paediatrics was appointed in Wellness Centre of the College and doctor having degree in Surgery was asked to head Anatomy while one with degree in Medicine was appointed in Physiology Department and the person with degree in Surgery was posted in ENT Department making the mess and mockery of system.
For last near about one decade no improvement has been brought in the system and things deteriorated day by day, sources said, adding that pattern followed on day one still continues and it was not changed till date nor efforts were made to improve the functioning of the College.
Sources said with the deteriorating state of affairs in the College it got ‘C Grade’ in the rank from National Council of Indian System of Medicines (NCISM) in 2024-25. Out of 31 doctors appointed on contractual basis in 2021 eleven of them were designated as Associate Professors and proposals were submitted to higher ups in the Government of designating them as Professors while the Gazette clearly says that temporary promotion or appointment shall not be considered as eligibility. How the contractual appointees were designated as Associate Professors is a mute question needing answer? sources said.
As per the norms a Post Graduate doctor to be appointed as associate professor should have five years regular service and Associate Professor to be promoted as Professor should have served as Associate Professor for 10 years, sources said, adding this criteria was totally ignored by the authorities of Medical Education Department of J&K which administratively controls the College to appease their blue eyed boys, sources added.
As per norms, all the 14 departments in the college were to be strengthened by appointing regular faculty instead of contractual. In 2023, the LG administration enhanced BAMS seats in the college from 63 to 100 to start the Post Graduate courses and to cope up with the same, the staff was to be increased in the college. But in the last three years the college did nothing in this regard, sources said.
The NCISM has given authority to the college to open PG in 14 branches but it opened PG only in seven branches, sources said, adding that in case the College will fail to improve grading in 2025-26 it will face tremendous problem.
Moreover, the College does not have any associate hospital, source said, adding during the establishment of the college which was housed in Ayurvedic Hospital Indira Chowk initially, the hospital was designated as its Associate Hospital. But after shifting it to village Sanghani in Akhnoor 40 kms away from Indira Chowk Jammu, how a hospital at a far off place can be designated as Associate Hospital to the College, sources added.
Sources said despite being designated to have a drug testing Laboratory of its own, the college failed to open the same till date.
Sources said the College also sans an Animal House for research purposes and it has miserably failed to overcome the shortcomings over the years. Besides, a contractual can’t be a guide as per the notification and only a regular Professor or Associate Professor can act as a guide but it appears this norm is not applicable to Ayurvedic College Jammu.
Sources said moreover the Public Service Commission (PSC) exam was never conducted though twice forms were issued and filled up by the candidates against the vacant posts. Moreover the fee of the candidates was also not remitted as the PSC failed to conduct the examinations, sources added.
In running various faculties, the Ayurvedic doctors from field duty are picked up for two days in a week to give lectures, sources said, adding this effects working of doctors as well and they are unable to concentrate on their job fully as a doctor has to give four days in the field hospitals and two days in the College for teaching students.
As per norms, there should be one lecturer for five students which the Jammu Ayurvedic Hospital does not have.
However, Minister of Health and Medical Education, Education Department and Social Welfare Sakina Itoo told Excelsior that there was no eligible doctor available in the Ayurveda fulfilling the criteria to head the Jammu Ayurvedic College so the charge was given to an outsider. She said the Government is on the job to appoint the head of the institute from Ayurveda.
While showing her displeasure over college getting C Grade, the Minister said it is a concern as Government is providing every kind of facility and support to the College. She said she will examine the issue fully and directions will be issued to improve the grade so that the college ranking also improves.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
