Ill health' plagues premier homeo college in BHUBANESWAR
Posted On Sunday, May 15, 2011 at at 11:49 PM by PradeepThe government-run Dr Abhin Chandra Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital in the city is on the verge of closure due to shortage of faculty members, poor turnout of patients and unutilization of infrastructure.
While the government has proposed to convert the premier institution into a National Institute of Homoeopathy, the college may face de-recognition from the Central Council of Homoeopathy if the crisis arising out of shortage of faculty members is any indication. The college has just 11 regular faculty members against 35 sanctioned posts. All the seven posts of professors are lying vacant. Moreover, nine posts of lecturers and eight posts of readers are vacant.
Principal Bishnu Charan Sahoo said, "We have brought some staff on deputation to manage the crisis."
However, students alleged that 18 medical officers, who were originally recruited to man dispensaries and having no teaching experience, were posted on deputation to take classes. "These medical officers are not supposed to be teaching us. Some do not even have the requisite qualifications. The government should recruit permanent faculty," said students' union general secretary Deeptimayee Prusty.
The principal said a series of litigations has stalled recruitment since 1986, giving rise to the present crisis. When after 11 years, the Supreme Court squashed the stay on a 1986 advertisement in 1997, interviews were held in 1999-2000. After the interview, there were further litigations challenging guidelines of the interview. Results were declared after the court verdict in 2009. By then, of the 14 eligible candidates, 11 were either close to the age of superannuation or retired. The government is yet to issue posting orders of the remaining five.
In a last ditch attempt to avoid de-recognition, the state government in April advertised for re-employment of retired faculty members. It decided to re-appoint 15 readers and 11 professors, who had retired. However, the move irked students who locked the college since May 7 and are on an indefinite dharna demanding regular appointment of faculty through Orissa Public Service Commission.
Prusty said the government must recruit fresh graduates and post graduates instead of retired personnel as lecturers. Through promotions and experience, they would acquire seniority and become readers and professors, she said.
Abhisek Patra, a student leader, said, "It is shocking that no regular posting in any teaching cadre was made in last 25 years. A few homoeopathic medical officers (HMOs) were posted on contractual basis way back in 2003." At present, around 300 posts of HMOs were lying vacant in the state, he said.
Established in 1969, the college with 170-odd student strength (125 undergraduates and 48 post graduates) is the first homoeopathic medical college in the country identified by the Union department of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) as a State Model Homoeopathic College.
Director of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Mahendra Kumar Mullick, too, attributed the college's problems to long legal battles and said all problems will be over soon. "The government has been working on new cadre rules. After the general administration department gives its nod, new recruitment and promotions will take place. The staff problem will be over," the director added.
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