From this academic year (2011-02), the Department of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) has increased the requirement of minimum availability of teachers for under graduate colleges of ASU system from 28 to 32.
In addition, there is now a mandatory requirement of one teacher in all the 14 departments of Ayurveda colleges, 8 of Unani colleges and 14 of Siddha colleges.
The new registration system was introduced after colleges failed to comply with the guidelines specified for imparting AYUSH education, with some of them even attempting to indulge in unfair practices to project availability of infrastructure and teachers, Anil Kumar, Secretary, Department of AYUSH told reporters here on Tuesday.
India has 499 colleges teaching the Indian system of medicine.
For improving the availability of the higher faculties, a minimum 10 teachers as professors or readers per 50 students would be insisted upon in Ayurveda colleges. “By 2011 end, the Centre would bring out a gazette notification stipulating the levels of hard and soft infrastructure the colleges should have to receive recognition. Once the new norms are notified, all colleges will have to follow them,” he said.
At present, colleges teaching the Indian system of medicine and homeopathy require annual approval to admit new students.