‘Response of students to Ayurved branch of medicine is on the rise’
| Date :10-Jun-2019 |
Dr Ganesh Mukkawar
By Vikas Vaidya:
Dr Ganesh Mukkawar, Dean of Government Ayurved College, shared his views with ‘The Hitavada’ on the issues of admissions, performance of students, boys and girls ratio opting Ayurved, opportunities of higher learning in the field. Dr Mukkawar elaborated on why there is rise in students opting for this branch of medicine. Excerpts:
Q: What is the position of admissions in Ayurved college?
A: Government Ayurved College has 100 seats.Of these 100 seats, 80 seats are for students of Maharashtra while 20 seats are for out of the State students. We are getting overwhelming response from students that is an indication that there is rise in awareness about Ayurved branch of medicine. You won’t believe, about 80,000 students opt for Ayurved branch but we can not provide admission to all of them.
Q: As far as response from students is concerned, do you find any difference in it with regards to boys and girls?
A: Yes. About 90% girls are opting Ayurved. Craze of becoming a doctor is more among girls.
Q: Whether all students choose purely Ayurved or they opt it because they don’t get admissions in MBBS or BDS courses?
A: About 60% to 70% students purely opt for Ayurved branch. While only 15% to 20% are those who opt for this branch of medicine after they do not get admissions to MBBS. But the option of Ayurved has registered a jump and it has become the second choice of students. Earlier, it was the fourth option among the students wishing to pursue education in medicine. In about last four years, it has been observed that students were preferring Ayurved over Dental. It is surprising that even students from other countries also have started choosing Ayurved.
Q: Can you tell about scope for Ayurved as far as pursuing career is concerned?
A: There are a lot of opportunities in Ayurved. Since 1981, University Grants Commission (UGC) implemented scale which was at par with its colleagues teaching to MBBS students. Demand for Ayurved is rising because people have reposed faith in it. There is a sharp inclination of people towards Ayurved treatment.
Q: What are the factors that are hampering Ayurved education?
A: Ayurved has no political patronage. Many of tutors have retired but those posts are not filled till now. Currently, there is a vacancy for 11 teachers including 7 professors. As per the rule framed by regulating authority, we could get three seats of Post Graduation (PG) as against a Professor, two seats as against an Associate Professor and one as against an Assistant Professor. Because of vacancies we are short of 24 PG seats. We have not a single PG seat in gynaecology, paediatry, Panchkarma and Pharmacology. At present Government Ayurved College is having 60 PG seats. In entire Maharashtra there are only four Ayurved college run by State Government. Collectively they have only 200 PG seats. Also, no encouragement is given to research in terms of funds. It is very difficult for us to conduct research sans funds. Even maintaining laboratories is very difficult. We have only three main books available those of Charak, Sushrut and Wagbhat. All other books were burnt long back by Mughals when they invaded our country.
Q: What according to you should be done for the promotion of Ayurved?
A: I think, Ayurved education should get recognition at par with MBBS. Government had said that there would be one Ayurved college in every district. It has not been done yet. Medical colleges come up with the strength of say 200 seats. Decision-makers say society should demand for Ayurved. How can society demand if Ayurved is not reaching them? We should have more number of PG seats as sans PG, Ayurved doctors do not get respect. Across State, we have only 200 PG seats. Ayurved plays an important role in treating patients. In Nagpur, there are over 500 private hospitals and over 3,000 Ayurved doctors practising as Resident Medical Officers who mostly manage the affairs. This is an indication that we can not ignore the presence of Ayurved doctors. Ayurved is gaining response in the developed countries. Countries like America are promoting it especially after Narendra Modi-led NDA Government started International Yoga Day. Companies in America are sponsoring research in Ayurved. In Nagpur, we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University to conduct research activities. There are 20 students including 12 faculties conducting research. Overall we are doing our best.