KATS unable to start class due to teacher shortage

Berhampur: The future of aspirants seeking admission in the government-run Kaviraj Ananta Tripathy Sharma (KATS) Ayurved Mahavidyalaya hangs in balance, as teaching faculty positions lie vacant. However, counselling of Odisha Joint Entrance Examination,( OJEE) qualifiers has already begun.

The Ministry of Ayush has yet to grant permission to the ayurveda institution to start its first year academic course. Last year the Government had halted admissions for the same reason. Prospects of first year study beginning this term seem pretty dim, as staff strength has yet to reach the required number.

As per the norms, the medical college and hospital needs at least 15 senior teaching faculty and two medical officers. In February, when the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) paid a visit, the college had 12 such teachers. Subsequently, two more professors were taken on, according to sources.

Three departments- Tantra (toxicology) and Stri Roga and Prsuti Tantra (gynecology) departments have no teaching staff.

"We have appraised the delegation of the CCIM of our staff shortage when the council invited us for hearing. We hope the Central government will grant us permission to conduct admission in the college," said college principal AN Padhy. The principal is hopeful of the CCIM granting the college permission to take in 60 students for the first year, at the beginning of term. Though the college has government consent for double the number.

The Principal claimed that the college was equipped with all other infrastructural facilities like , hospital, herbal garden, medicine manufacture and other required buildings.

Despite all, prospects of Ayurveda classes for the first year batch beginning this year continue to remain an uncertainty.