Odisha: Homeopathic college students on hunger strike

Behrampur: Ministry Of Ayush’s decision to stop admissions to the Biju Patnaik Homeopathic Medical College & Hospital (BPHMCH) in the absence of infra structural facilities for the year 2016-17, has led the students of the college to go on an indefinite hunger strike since Monday. The students took to the streets in protest and also sat on a dharna outside the institute.

The students are protesting against the state government’s apathy in the matter, for they feel that it is the government body that is responsible for the infrastructural deficiencies pointed at. A list of demands have also been put forward by them to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare ,Secretary of State.

The student letter signed by President , Students’ Union, Gopal Kumar Padhy stated. “It is an irony that our institution is being managed by only eight regular teaching faculty while prescribed regular staff strength of professors, readers and lecturers for BPHMCH is 35.”

According to information, shortage of faculty requirements and infra structural deficiencies are the reasons behind the Ayush Ministry declining permission for student admissions for the current session. The college has a student intake of 25 for undergraduate courses.

The students have demanded immediate recruitment of staff for the institute by the state authorities, opening of the indoor facilities to patients of the hospital, at present only outpatient services are available; filling up of vacancy positions of laboratory technicians and librarians, hostel facility for girls, and an increased stipend for interns.

Meanwhile in a letter dated October 10, Deputy Secretary,Ministry of AYUSH wrote to the Principal of the college and denied permission for commencement of the academic session 2016-17 for under graduate courses. The reason cited for the same being that the institution had to comply with full requirements of HCC (MCR), Regulations, 2013; which it did not. The letter further made clear to the managing authorities, that all discrepancies had to be fulfilled by December 2016, if the college wanted to be considered for the next academic year.