GDC Srinagar to start 2 new specialities, intake enhanced
Govind Sharma/
Irfan Tramboo
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Mar 3: After struggling for a long time, Indira Gandhi Government Dental College (IGGDC) Jammu has finally got nod of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to start PG courses from the academic session 2020-21 with intake capacity of 14 seats while as the MDS seats of Government Dental College (GDC) Srinagar has been enhanced to 28 with grant of permission to start 2 new specialities.
As per the Letter of Permission (LoP) issued to IGGDC Jammu by Union Ministry of Health Family Welfare, the copy of which has been accessed by EXCELSIOR, the institution has got permission to start MDS courses in seven out of nine specialities from the academic session 2020-21 with 14 seats (2 seats in each speciality).
The specialities in which the IGGDC Jammu has got permission to start MDS courses are Periodontology, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Prosthodontics & Crown Bridge, Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics, Paedodontics & Preventive Dentistry and Oral Pathology & Microbiology.
As per the LoP issued by the Central Government, the College has been accorded permission initially for a period of one year, which will be renewed on yearly basis, subject to the verification of the achievement of annual targets.
Principal, IGGDC Jammu, Dr Romesh Singh also confirmed that on the recommendation of Dental Council of India, the Central Government has granted permission to the Institution to start MDS courses in 7 disciplines with annual intake of 14 seats with effect from this academic session.
Dr Singh said admissions will be made on the basis of NEET examination which has already been held in December. “I am going to convey Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) about the development and request it to keep reserve our quota of seats as within a week or two, the Board is going to start counseling,” he added.
The Principal IGGDC Jammu said that the College was struggling to start MDS courses for a long time but due to the personal efforts of present Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, J&K Government, Atal Dulloo, the institution has been finally granted permission to start PG courses.
Meanwhile, Principal of GDC Srinagar, Dr Reyaz Farooq confirmed to EXCELSIOR that 2-3 seats have been given additionally to all the existing specialities. “We have been given permission to start two more specialities: Oral Pathology and Periodontics-to begin with, we will allow three admissions in each of the new speciality,” he said.
He added that in rest of the 6 existing specialities, the intake capacity has been increased by 2-3 seats each speciality. Under Economically Weaker Section (EWS), the college has been given four more additional seats, he said, adding, with this addition, the total intake capacity for the GDC Srinagar in PG courses has risen to 28.
Pertinent to mention here that EXCELSIOR had exclusively highlighted in its February 15 edition that PG courses are likely to be started from this session in IGGDC Jammu as Dental Council of India (DCI) has recommended Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to grant permission to start MDS courses to the Institute and a formal notification in this connection may be issued very soon by the Ministry.
It was also highlighted by the Excelsior that the IGGDC Jammu is likely to get 14 MDS seats while GDC Srinagar may get 15 to 16 more seats from this session itself.
Start of PG courses in IGGDC Jammu was a long pending demand of the MDS aspirants as the Government Dental College Srinagar has been offering the same since 2007. Though the process for starting PG courses in IGGDC Jammu was started 4-5 years back but firstly infrastructure and then due to lack of faculty, the process got delayed.
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