Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 15: In a landmark decision, the Union Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) today accorded approval to establish an Ayurveda College with the name of Government Ayurvedic Medical College, Akhnoor with immediate effect.
Lone Ayurveda College in Jammu, which was started in 1975, had been closed down in 1981 with only one batch passing out. It was after 36 years that the Ayurvedic Medical College has been approved for Jammu by Prime Minister Narendra Modi led BJP Government at the Centre.
Health and Medical Education Minister Bali Bhagat told the Excelsior that the Union Ayush Ministry has also approved 50 seats in UG (BAMS) course for the Ayurvedic College Akhnoor from current session i.e. 2017-18. He said he has spoken to the Chairman of Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE) soon after receiving the approval for the Ayurvedic College and asked him to select 50 students on merit-basis for admissions to the BAMS course from currency session.
Bhagat said initially the Ayurvedic College would start functioning from Ayurvedic Hospital, Shalamar Road and from next year, the college would operate from Akhnoor, where the building for it was under construction and expected to be completed next year.
“Hopefully, from next year, the Government Ayurvedic Medical College, Akhnoor, will start functioning from its own building,” he said.
The Ayush Ministry order issued today in New Delhi said the college was required to complete certain formalities by December 31, 2017 to get conditional permission for 2018-19. It said the new college has been authorized to admit 50 students for the BAMS course from the current session itself.
Meanwhile, the Health and Medical Education Ministry has designated Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, Principal Dr Sunanda Raina as Principal of the new Government Ayurvedic Medical College as a provisional arrangement to run the college by completing formalities of admissions etc.
“The Principal of the Government Medical College would officiate as the Principal of the Government Ayurvedic Medical College, Akhnoor till regular Principal is posted to the new college,” sources said.
The Union Ayush Ministry order said the Government Ayurvedic Medical College, Akhnoor administration will ensure that sufficient qualified teachers and non-teaching staff in the college and requisite staff in the hospital, as per the relevant CCIM Regulations, are in place before admission of first batch of the students in the First Professions of BAMS course is made.
“The new college has to develop the requisite infrastructure for Second, Third and Fourth professionals well in time as per the CCIM norms, which will be verified and reported by the CCIM at least three months before the start of next Professions and accordingly, the permission for taking admissions in subsequent academic session will be issue,” the Order said.
It added that the college administration can take up the matter for recognition of the qualification under Section 14 (2) of the IMCC Act at the time when the first back of students admitted against the course appears for the first final Professional examination.
Meanwhile, Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat today hailed the Government of India for sanctioning the establishment of first ever Government Ayurvedic College at Jammu.
Conveying his gratitude to the Union Ministry of AYUSH, the Minister said this significant decision will go a long way in improving the overall health scenario in the State, especially in the traditional AYUSH sector, which has become popular over the last two decades in the country as well in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister also congratulated the people of J&K on this significant decision of the Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for which concerted efforts were made by the State authorities. He said immediately after taking the reign of the Ministry of Health & Medical Education, the process for establishment of this much needed institution was set in motion.
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