CCIM issues LoI to start 1st batch of 60 seats
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 10: After a long wait of over 10 years, decks have been cleared for the start of the Government Unani Medical College, Nawabagh with 60 seats in UG (BUMS) course from the academic session 2020-21 as the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), Ministry of AYUSH has issued Letter of Intent (LoI) for the same.
As there was no AYUSH educational institution in public sector of J&K and students either had to go outside J&K or take admission in private colleges for seeking AYUSH medical education, the Government of J&K felt need for the establishment of Ayurvedic/Unani Medical Colleges in the erstwhile State to impart the quality education of Ayurvedic/Unani Systems of Medicine and produce qualified Ayurvedic/Unani graduates and accordingly proposals for establishing Government Ayurvedic/Unani Medical Colleges were submitted to Government of India in 2008.
Accordingly, the Government of India (GoI) in 2009 approved establishment of Government Ayurvedic Medical College in Jammu and Government Unani Medical College in Kashmir on 50:50 basis with an estimated cost of Rs 25.80 cr and Rs 32.50 cr, respectively. In the year 2010-11, GoI accorded sanction to both Ayurvedic and Unani Medical Colleges.
In the year 2011-12, the construction work of the building of the Unani Medical College was started by J&K Housing Board on 78 kanals of land at Nawabagh (Ganderbal). In the year 2016, when almost half of the structure of the Unani Medical College was ready, the J&K H&ME Department applied for grant of permission from the GoI to start 1st batch of BUMS course in Unani Medical College on make shift basis and accordingly the inspection team of CCIM visited the College campus and Associated Hospital (Government Unani Hospital, Shalteng, Srinagar) in February 2017 but due to several shortfalls, the permission was not granted and the Department was directed to apply fresh.
Accordingly, after completing all the requisite formalities, a fresh proposal was submitted to Ministry of AYUSH by H&ME Department vide its application dated 28-05-2019 seeking permission to start 1st batch in Unani Medical College and in the meantime most of the gaps as per CCIM regulations were fulfilled. Moreover, Associated Hospital of the College was made fully functional, 129 posts of teaching and non-teaching staff were created and OPD services in the hospital located in new college campus was started.
Subsequently, the J&K H&ME Department again requested the Ministry of AYUSH for issuing Letter of Permission (LoP) to start the first batch of BUMS course in the College vide its letter dated 11-08-2020 and accordingly, the CCIM, Ministry of AYUSH vide its communication dated 19-08-2020 issued LoI to start first batch of BUMS course with 60 seats in Government Unani Medical College from the academic session 2020-21 subject to fulfillment of requisite pre-conditions as per the laid down norms of CCIM before the inspection team for issuance of Letter of Permission.
Terming it a great achievement, the Financial Commissioner (FC), J&K H&ME Department, Atal Dulloo said, the inordinate delay in starting first batch in Unani Medical College was due to the denial of permission by CCIM on account of some deficiencies in the year 2017 and simultaneously a rider of two years was placed by CCIM for submitting fresh proposals for opening up of new AYUSH colleges.
He said in last three years, the Department did its best to fill up gaps of infrastructure and manpower and at the same time followed up the case with the CCIM. “The construction work of the College was hampered due to non-availability of funds for which the Department after hectic efforts succeeded in getting released shortfall of pending Rs 9 cr under languishing projects,” he added.
Dulloo said presently, all works of the College Block have been completed except road connectivity, landscaping and land filling and similarly, all works of the Hospital Block are also completed except Operation Theatre and service lift. The FC said that he is committed to start the college from this academic session and accordingly he has issued directions to College authorities and Directorate of ISM to fulfill all the pre-conditions as per the LoI before the inspection of CCIM team so that the LoP is issued at an earliest.
“All the conditions mentioned in the LoI will be fulfilled by deployment of teaching faculty from Directorate of ISM/National AYUSH Mission on deputation basis till the recruitment of rules of gazetted and non-gazetted staff are issued and after issuance of recruitment rules, the staff will be recruited through SRO-24 in the first instance which will be followed by regular recruitment through PSC/SSRB so that all the gaps are fulfilled,” the FC replied in response to a question.
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