Get-together festival begins in Ayurveda

With the sun’s transition in to the “Uttarayana Punayakala” – the Northern inclination of Sun, the auspiciousness is out busted. Under the AYUSH directions, the CCIM starts inspections to the All Ayurveda colleges from January 27^th onwards and completes before to 15^th February. This visitation finalizes the 2012-13 sanctions of undergraduate and postgraduate admissions. The visitation of CCIM brought festive colour to the Ayurveda colleges. On the day of event one can see the working place with many new faces to make friendship and meet the old friends who appear like comets. We get educated well with present day style of Ayurveda curriculum. Students are pressured to decorate the college premises and departments. It is a very nice opportunity for the patients even. In normal days to get the food-bed is difficult. But in the Ayurveda festive moods, all managements will offer not only food-bed but also money. Thank God! Ayurveda managements not following the politicians to offer liquor bottle along with. The Visitors, Teachers, Doctors, Managements, Patients, Para-Medical staff in Ayurveda colleges will certainly enjoy the “Visitation Festival”.

May this festival bring you peace and harmony! Happy Ayurveda Festival- 2012

Med. Officer at Meghalaya

We reach the Western Style of Teaching

Why do these Governments make such resolutions of appointing “Hour base Lectures” in Government Ayurveda colleges – when so many eligible are available? Probably we reach the Western Style of Teaching !

Himachal Pradesh require Rasashastra Prof.

• Department of Ayurved – Himachal Pradesh
• Location: Himachal Pradesh
• Applications are invited for the following posts :

1) Professor

Qualification : i) Bachelor degree in Ayurveda from recognized University or Council of Indian System of Medicine established by law or from an Ayurvedic College recognized by the Govt. and ii) Post graduate degree in Ras Shastra & Bhaishjya Kalpna from any recognized University established by law or the degree recognized by CCIM/H.P. Govt. iii) Teaching experience of 15 years after doing P.G. in Ras Shastra & B.K.

• Pay Scale : Rs. 33522/- P.M.
• Age limit : Less than 65 years.

2) Reader

Qualification : i) Bachelor degree in Ayurveda from recognized
University or Council of Indian System of Medicine established by law or from an Ayurvedic College recognized by the Govt. and ii) Post graduate degree in Ras Shastra Bhaishjya Kalpna from any recognized University established by law or the degree recognized by CCIM/H.P. Govt. iii) Teaching experience of 10 years after doing P.G. in Ras Shastra & B.K.

• Pay Scale : Rs.23103/-P.M.
• Age limit : Less than 65 years

How To Apply: walk-in interview in the Directorate of Ayurveda, H.P. Block No. 26, SDA Complex, Shimla, on 30th January 2012 at 11.00 A.M.

Download Official Notification: http://himachal.nic.in/vacancy/Adv2012_A1b.pdf

Incredible Ayurveda in 2010

According to 2010 figures from the Department of AYUSH in India, there are approximately 478,750 registered Ayurveda practitioners and 2,458 hospitals with 44,820 beds. In terms of the educational aspect of the industry, there are approximately 256 Ayurveda colleges and 66 postgraduate colleges, with the National Institute of Ayurveda in Jaipur being the apex body amongst them. What is most interesting, however, is the vast commercial enterprise that supports India’s massive Ayurveda system. Ayurveda products can be found in almost every pharmacy, grocery and parlour, from large commercial cities to small remote villages. [source][Mission to India breaks educational barriers: Ayurvedic medicine to be taught at UWI]

On the other hand my experience is – many generic medicines which were in practice at the time of our studentship has vanished from the market and replaced by the proprietary medicines. Many Ayurveda colleges are mushrooming with inadequate staff and facilities. Many PG sections are running with Visiting faculty and even the Guide norms are not followed by many Universities.  Many Govt. Ayurvedic Colleges are with inadequate staff and efficiency is the word of CCIM  President, Vaidya Raghunandan Sharma. The magic figure  are for whom to please?

Best Universities 2011

The University Grants Commission (UGC) awarded 6 Universities with Universities with potentials for Excellence (UPE) award. Among six colleges – Osmania University, Banaras Hindu University, Gurunanak Dev University, Mysore University, Karnataka University and Rajastan University. These universities will get an additional huge recognition and funds amounting to Rs 50 crore. This is one side of coin. The other side is dark. No State Health Universities are in the list.  [Source]

Why not the training for Private Ayurveda Colleges

CCIM is interested to updateGovt.Collegestaff. Whether CCIM feels that what ever is going on in Private sector of the Ayurveda is right or pleased with the hospitality of private colleges. As for the records or maintenance both sides Ayurveda colleges are maintaining the brotherhood. Many colleges in the private sector have duplicate teachers who are either on paper or on visiting. Even though teachers are interested in the regular working the managements are not ready as they have to pay a regular UGC accepted or State scales to the faculty. The variations in the payments are giving scope for frequent shifts of teaching faculty. This intellectual migration is to be stopped and regularities of universal pay-scales are to be brought forward by either CCIM or AYUSH. So, the teacher shifts and stop the staff crunch at inspections.

Govt Ayurveda College Staff require Training

The council observed that the teachers were often being shuffled between colleges to overcome staff crunch during council inspections. Besides, most colleges lack minimum standards prescribed by the council, like shortage of staff, faulty records in terms of OPD cards, practical, and theory tests. Also, most of the colleges did not maintain transparency in administration.

Speaking to Express, Vaidya Raghunandan Sharma, president, CCIM said that the whole purpose of training programme for the members and teachers was to provide quality education to the students, as the quality of education is getting worse in these colleges. “The inspection team will be trained to check various facilities and services, earlier records of the colleges, OPD cards, staff and other infrastructure facilities provided by the authorities of the colleges”, Vaidya Raghunandan further added.

Taking a step ahead, the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) will offer a training programme for its members and nearly 200 professors working from government colleges. Members of the CCIM inspection team will on check further mushrooming of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha colleges which are not complying with the minimum standards of education and infrastructure set by the CCIM.

The council will train the council and faculty members with the help of the officials from the Ayush department under Union Health ministry. The training programme will be held for members across the country. The event will take place in Bangalore on January 20, Delhi on Jan 12 and 13,and in Mumbai on January 19.

[source]

Publication of International Journal of Ayurveda Research in trouble with inadequate funding

Department of Ayush seems to be not keen on the promotion of Ayurveda research and publications. While it is almost close to stalling the continuation of a peer publication titled ‘International Journal of Ayurveda Research’ (IJAR) published with the support of the department of Ayush, many proposals put forth by the industry to steer growth of the sector have not seen the light of the day.

The situation has led to a complete suspension of activity in the Department of Ayush which has resulted in the deferring of not just funding but any new initiatives, informed sources familiar with the development but did not wished to be named.

With regard to the IJAR, which has been a much-sought after publication may also be discontinued. It is now learnt that its editor has resigned following the low funding extended, making it impossible to publish the Journal in a professional way.

The IJAR website indicates that the publication was chaired by a reputed clinical pharmacologist and has a number well known scientists on its advisory board.

When the Department of Ayush officials were contacted, they were unavailable to comment.

The quantum of financial assistance disbursed this year amounting to around Rs.3 lakh makes it impossible to continue the publication and this is a serious blow to the Ayurveda sector. The publication which has been there for the last 18 months received a fund infusion of Rs.7 lakh when it was approved. Out of this, about Rs.4 lakh was used for publishing and the remaining was allocated for administrative expenses, stated the sources.

The IJAR was a source of information and helped the sector to keep abreast of the events in the areas of research. The Journal was much wanted in India where leading researchers like Dr Ashok Vaidya among others contributed articles that indicated the promising prospects of future of Ayurveda research. IJAR had in its short period of publication received wide recognition, and provided a platform to publish high quality scientific research results on Ayurveda. [read more]

AP may loose even 250 Allopathic PG

Medical Council of India whips the Allopathic Medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh. As already the Ayurvedic medical colleges are at one academic year loss with lack of PG & UG staff, even the Allopathic PG also may cancelled. According to the information available 129 professors, 118 Associate professors and 324 Assistant professor Vacancies are vacant in 8 medical colleges. MCI wish to visit and regulate the situations and may cancel the admissions for next year. Dr.B. Ramesh, TDA of Osmania General Hospital say that – this situation is resultant of Govt. negligence. Let us wait and see – what decision is taken by the Govt. when there are no available teachers in the service. Whether Govt. of AP is ready to loose 250 Allopathic PG, 200 Ayurvedic Graduates along with 50 PG or direct appointments are undertaken – time decides.

AP Ayurvedic and Allopathic doctors sail in same boat -

Does Ayurveda have Instrumentation?

Our Indian Heritage is vast. We attribute Bramhastra, etc. as the advanced weaponry in Mahabharata battle. Are there any evidences of Medical instrumentations available any where? The pyramid diggers found few objects that are capable of producing electricity and flying objects pictures on stones. In Ayurveda text descriptions we get a word – not visible to the naked eye – does it means of microscope?

In spite of all these past, still even in 21^st Century where in the other side of medical sciences are with full of instrumentation and precision of medical diagnosis and management – why Ayurveda is lethargic for adaptation of new science – is a million dollar question.

The officers of regulations peeping at the spa and Ayurveda massage centers as these are the center of money. Institutions are minting with sub-standard physicians. The lack in patients, infrastructure, machinery, payments are common in Ayurveda colleges. Even the Govt colleges are not in reach with the CCIM & AYUSH stipulations. Ayurveda teachers are not even trained to teach, the qualification said for the teacher is with out any training of teacher. Many do not possess any interest or enthusiasm in teaching. Research for the instrumentation is at the far from their ideology.

How to develop the instrumentation in Ayurveda is a small question with a big meaning in it – as the tomorrow is waiting for us as alternative. Write your ideas or experiences of Ayurveda instrumentation.

1000 Allopathic comes & 200 Ayurveda goes in AP

2012 has grand opening for the Medical education in Andhra Pradesh. According to the narration at local News Paper, AP Health Minister Sri DL Ravindra Reddy said there will be 1000 seats sanction for new and old Medical colleges in 2012. On the other hand the existing Ayurvedic Colleges are in pathetic situation and no permission to continue the scheduled seats in either Graduation or Post graduation courses. The situation developed as there are no qualified and experienced staffs in these Ayurvedic colleges with CCIM and AYUSH stipulations. Even though much preferences and relaxation are given, the existing staff could not reach to the qualities of AYUSH. Because of this Andhra Ayurvedic Colleges are loosing 200 seats of graduation and around 40 PG seats. As there is no provision for the direct recruitment of senior posts, almost professor vacancies are vacant. The rule position even though as simple as – strong violation is done by many Govt. institutions and private colleges under Universities. In RGUHS,Bangalorenoticed that with a minimum of 5 year experience in UG are provided with PG Guide ship is ridicules. See rule no 16. Qualifications for postgraduate teachers – of “The Gazette of India no 17, dated 4-2-2005”

• 1)  A post graduate qualification is necessary to enter as Lecturer of Graduation
• 2) A minimum of 3 year experience is required to enter in PG Dept. as PG Lecturer
• 3) A PG teacher with 5 year experience or 10 year experience in UG is required for the post of PG Asst. Professor (Reader)
• 4) 5 Year experience as PG Reader is considered for PG Professor