The Hindu : Measures afoot to improve conditions

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 18, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

Measures afoot to improve conditions

By Our Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA, JAN. 17 . The Directorate of Medical Education has agreed to initiate a slew of measures to improve the conditions of the "jinxed'' Government Dental College and Hospital, Vijayawada, to ensure its permanent recognition by the Dental Council of India (DCI).

Despite being set up in 1994, the college, which has an intake capacity of 40 students has failed to obtain a permanent recognition due to grossly inadequate infrastructure. Due to inadequacy, the DCI has only been according temporary recognition to the college every year amidst reports that the college can be disbanded any moment.

As per the DCI norms, a dental colleges should have minimal surgical facilities like "orthopanto graphic machines'' (for correction of dentures) and "prosthodentia'' casting machines (for capping purpose) which college has failed to obtain so far.

The DCI has also been insisting that there should not be any appointment of teachers (like assistant professors) on contract basis. However, out of the 10 sanctioned posts, seven assistant professors have been working on a contract basis. Similarly, out of the seven reader posts, five have remained vacant and in spite of the DCI guidelines, the State Government has been dilly dallying in filling the posts. All these lacunae have compelled the DCI to withhold permanent recognition to the college and it has also been threatening to derecognise the college.

"We have now initiated several steps to fulfil the norms of the DCI to ensure a permanent recognition for the college,'' the newly appointed principal, Swarnalalitha J. Wesley, told reporters in an informal chat here on Saturday.

She said while the "orthopantic graphic machine'' costing Rs. 14 lakhs would be installed at the hospital in the next two days, the prosthodential casting machine, also costing Rs.14 lakhs, would also be provided shortly. Tenders hadalready been called for the same.

Ms. Swarnalalitha said efforts were on to make appointment of the assistant professors and readers on a regular basis as stipulated by the DCI.

Asserting that her intention was to make the college one of the best in the country, she proposed to upgrade the student intake to 100 from the existing 40 for which the college had to be shifted to the 5-acre land allotted to it by the Siddhartha Medical College.

She said there was also a proposal to start a postgraduate (MDS) course.

The library was being modernised by introduction of computer and Internet facilities. She said the college was also planning undertake regular dental camps.

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