Centre yet to grant permission to admit students in ATSAM

Berhampur: The Centre is yet to grant permission to the Kaviraj Ananta Tripathy Sharma Ayurved Mahavidyalaya (ATSAM) at Ankushapur here here to admit students into the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) course for 2015-16.

The department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) under the Centre grants permission to Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic colleges to conduct admissions after getting reports from the Central Council of India Medicine (CCIM) and the Central Council of Homoeopathic (CCH).

The colleges have to fulfil all criteria of CCIM to conduct admissions. None of the three government-run ayurvedic colleges in the state have got this permission this year. The other two colleges are in Bolangir and Puri. The Biju Patnayak Homoeopathic College has, however, been given a nod to conduct admissions.

"They have invited us for a hearing in the department on September 14. We are going to present the infrastructure status of the college and appeal that it grants us permission for admissions", said College Principal A N Padhy.

"Except for shortage of one higher teaching faculty member, the college fulfils almost all the CCIM criteria. According to the norms, 12 higher teaching faculty members and 27 teachers are required. We have 28 teachers, including 11 higher faculty. The government has appointed a professor on a contractual basis, but he is yet to join", he said.

"We hope the department of AYUSH will consider our case and permit us to conduct admissions this year", the principal said. Last year, admission to ayurvedic and homoeopathic colleges in the state was carried out in November as the Centre grant permission late.

No student was admitted to the Ankushapur college in 2011-12 as the government did not give permission for the same, citing poor infrastructure and shortage of faculty members.