Indore: While University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed universities across the country to offer doctoral research degree programmes in AYUSH disciplines also, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya had accommodated AYUSH and medical courses in its Ordinance two years ago but it is not enrolling students in PhD in those courses.
Reason?
After establishment of Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University (MPMSU), State government had directed all state universities to shift all courses related to medical and AYUSH courses to MPMSU. The instructions were met. That is the reason we are not offering PhD courses in AYUSH and other medical disciplines despite accommodating the same in our Ordinance,” said DAVV PhD cell chairman Prof Ganesh Kawadia. MPMSU is also not offering PhD programmes in medical and AYUSH streams stating that it does not have enough infrastructure and hands to run many courses.
At present, this medical university has taken only MBBS, BDS, MD and MDS courses in its fold. DAVV is still offering courses like BAMS, BHMS, BUMS till MPMSU requests to transfer the same to it.
On the same lines why DAVV is not offering PhD courses also?
The DAVV’s argument is that it has not received any instructions pertaining to this from State government.
“The government has instructed us to continue to affiliate BAMS, BHMS, and BUMS courses till MPMSU is in position to opt for these courses. But no instructions pertaining to PhD programmes were given to us,” Kawadia said adding that if the government directed DAVV to offer PhD programmes as well in these disciplines they would started doing so.
Following a request by Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, UGC has issued an advisory to all educational institutions to include AYUSH disciplines in their institutions for enrollment of candidates in the PhD programmes
AYUSH is aimed at developing Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) systems for healthcare of people imbibing scientific interventions.
In a letter to UGC, the ministry said that it is committed to encourage research in AYUSH systems for which five autonomous research organisations including Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine and Central Council for Research in Siddha.
These Councils desire to enhance research opportunities through PhD fellowship programme for the development of AYUSH. It intends to sponsor annually 200 candidates (125 PG of AYUSH and 75 PG of Science & technology streams) for pursuing PhD on AYUSH research topics.
