Nod to shift Patiala ayurvedic college to Hoshiarpur varsity

MINISTER BRAHM MOHINDRA HAD MOOTED THE PROPOSAL WHEN HE HELD CHARGE OF MEDICAL EDUCATION DEPT

The Punjab government has approved a proposal from the medical education department to transfer Government Ayurvedic College Patiala, and its associate entities to Guru Ravidas Ayurved University, Hoshiarpur.

Cabinet minister Brahm Mohindra had mooted this proposal when he held the charge of medical education department. He had made consistent effort to shift this college to the university, as it was not getting enough funds from the government for smooth operation. Salaries were also going unpaid and research was almost non-existent.

The finance department nod to the proposal comes with many riders, including that the Punjab government won’t fund it after the next fiscal, and the declaration of the staff cadre as ‘dying cadre’. All assets and liabilities will also be transferred to the university. The college has a government Ayurvedic hospital and a pharmacy for these medicines.

“The existing cadre/staff strength of government employees, as it would be after the approval of restructuring done before the process of transfer of this college, shall be frozen and this cadre shall be declared as dying cadre. Now, the University will have the authority to recruit employees,” finance department conditions add.

The present employees will get salaries and allowances as per government rules, while future employees will get pay as per university rules. The government will provide funds till financial year 2021-22. After that, only grant-in-aid will be provided for staff salaries. No capital budget for upgrade will be provided and the University will draw up a plan and work towards becoming financially self-sufficient in the next fiscal.

Mohindra said the government had taken a much-needed step to save and upgrade the college and ensure proper monitoring through the university. “I hope that this is notified soon. After being part of the university, the college becomes eligible to get funds from the Centre and the state government. This will uplift ayurdevic research in Patiala,” he added.