The only ayurveda college in southern part of the State Kaviraj Ananta Tripathy Sharma Ayurveda College & Hospital, situated at Ankushpur on the outskirts of Berhampur, is hopeful of admitting students for the academic session 2013-14.
The college, established by ‘kabiraj’ and former MP Ananta Tripathy Sharma in 1978, was accorded the status of a government college in 1994 during the tenure of then chief minister Biju Patnaik. There are 14 departments in the college along with a 100-bed hospital and OPD in seven departments.
The college was, however, derecognised by the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) due to lack of infrastructure during the academic year 2008-09. It now requires CCIM permission before admitting students to its bachelor degree in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) every academic year. The students strength in BAMS is 33.
The CCIM team on Tuesday visited the college to review its infrastructure and faculty situation. The team comprised B Srinivas Prasad from Karnataka, Prajapati Tripathi from Bihar and Pawan Kumar Godtiwar from Rajasthan.
“We will submit our report to the CCIM within a couple of days,” said Srinivas Prasad.
On the other hand, Superintendent of the college B K Panda said the college requires 40 per cent of patients more than its bed capacity, adequate number of teachers and other facilities to function. “During the team’s visit, there were 74 patients in the indoor and another 120 in outdoor. Besides, of the 34 teaching posts in the college, there are 27 teachers at present. We also have a botanical garden and medicinal plants on our campus which is mandatory as per CCIM norms. These were enough to satisfy the team members,” Panda said.
He said the college is hopeful of CCIM permission by June 15 following which admissions can take place.