Homeo students protest jobs to retd prof

BHUBANESWAR: Students of government-run Dr Abhin Chandra Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital started an indefinite dharna here on Monday against contractual re-appointment of retired faculty members. The students are demanding regular appointment of faculty through the Orissa Public Service Commission. Out of sanctioned strength of 43 teaching staff, only nine are regular appointees, they said.
In a memorandum addressed to chief minister Naveen Patnaik, the student's union said the students would take mass college leaving certificates if their demands are not met.Students' union joint secretary Dhirendra Rath the state government's decision to appoint 15 readers and 11 professors on contract from retired personnel is very discouraging. The government should have given promotions through departmental promotion committee to the deserving existing staff, it said.
While fresh homoeopathy post graduates were facing unemployment problem, the retirees will get pension and contractual remuneration, the students said. The union has requested the government to stop admission to homoeopathy undergraduate courses till the problem is solved.
The union said no regular posting in any teaching cadre was made in the last 25 years. A few homeopathic medical officers (HMOs) were posted on a contractual basis in 2003, the union said. Currently, around 300 posts of HMOs were lying vacant in the state, they said.