CUTTACK: The 30 BDS seats, which had been withdrawn by the Union Health Ministry on recommendations of the Dental Council of India (DCI) last year on account of infrastructure and faculty shortcomings, have been restored to the SCB Dental College and Hospital under the SCB Medical here.
The Union Ministry's permission for increasing the BDS seats from the existing 20 to 50 from the academic session 201112 was received by the College on Friday. And even as the counselling for the BDS courses has been completed and admissions are over, moves are now on to hold fresh counselling to fill up the added seats. The approval has been accorded on the basis of the letter of intent submitted by the State Government and steps taken for fulfillment of the infrastructure and faculty requirements in the College.
The DCI during its inspection last year had refused to recommend continuation of the enhanced seats on grounds of gross deficiencies in faculty positions and infrastructure. There were at least 15 posts in the faculty level across disciplines lying vacant while several departments were functioning without professors at the helm. As a result 30 seats had been withdrawn in the last academic session 201011.
However, this time around, the Government took steps to address the shortcomings. As many as 11 faculty positions have been filled up and the process for appointments to the remaining vacant posts is on. "The Government has also appointed professors in different disciplines like the Prosthetic Dentistry and others", said Principal Prof JK Das.
Health Minister Prasanna Acharya said all efforts are being made to comply with the DCI guidelines. The infrastructure deficiencies are being addressed with construction of new buildings and induction of new facilities in the College.
