Location blues haunt ayurvedic college

Bifurcation seems have however put a spoke in the wheel of the project of shifting the ayurvedic college to Kondapalli. The bifurcation seems have however put a spoke in the wheel of the project of shifting the ayurvedic college to Kondapalli as the government was thinking of developing a Nature Cure Hospital too.

The Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), the equivalent of the Medical Council of India (MCI) for Ayurvedic medical Colleges seems to be totally oblivious to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

According to the CCIM website the Dr. BRKR Govt. Ayurvedic College, Hyderabad, and the Anantha Lakshmi College, Warangal, are still in Andhra Pradesh. The Dr. N. R. Sastry Government Ayurvedic College, Vijayawada, and the Sri Venkateswara Ayurvedic College, Tirupati, are still on the list of colleges recognised by the council.

However, every year there is uncertainty about the Central Council granting permission for the Vijayawada Ayurvedic College to make fresh admissions.

If it is not the routine reason of faculty shortage, another reason is lack of bed strength in the teaching hospital. If it is not a question of faculty or bed strength, it is the small size of the college campus, which is insufficient.

The Vijayawada Government Ayurvedic College is located on 80 cents of land on the bank of Bandar Canal. The Central Council is demanding a minimum of five acres from all new private and government Ayurvedic Colleges. The Council Members are having a difficult time explaining why a college that has a campus of just 80 cents was being given recognition year after year.

Former Vijayawada Ayurvedic College principal who is currently member of the CCIM M. L. Naidu says the council has been making exemptions every year. There were plans to shift the college to a 10-acre campus near Kondapalli. Funds to the tune of Rs. 40 lakh were released for the land.

The bifurcation seems have however put a spoke in the wheel of the project of shifting the ayurvedic college to Kondapalli as the government was thinking of developing a Nature Cure Hospital too. The Kondapalli identified as an industrial zone will be too polluted for the purpose. The government is reportedly zeroing in on a piece of land near Agiripalli for developing an integrated campus for both the Ayurvedic and Naturopath Colleges.

Meanwhile time is running out. December 31 is the cut off date for the Central Council and inspection teams begin work in January. Whether history will repeat itself and exceptions will be given to the college is a matter of speculation.