Punjab has withdrawn management and NRI quota for U.G. courses in private Ayush colleges (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) after the directions from the Union government.

Now, all the 800 seats in private and government colleges will be selected through the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET). Before the admissions were based upon the statewide entrance test, which was conducted by Hoshiarpur-based Guru Ravidas Ayurved University.

Dr. Sujata Sharma the Director of research and medical education said that these changes have been made after the decision of Center to bring AYUSH system medicine under NEET that would make education more affordable.

“The new fee structure is being worked out after withdrawal of management and NRI quota seats that had higher fee than government seats,” she said.

There is only one government ‘Ayurvedic’ college in Punjab, and 15 private colleges where the 50 percent of seats add to management quota for at Rs 1.20 lakh per annum and Rs 80,00 if in case for a government quota seat. While the 15 percent seats were allotted to NRIs at Rs 2.4 lakh per year.

The state also has 4 private homeopathic colleges and a unani college.

Dr. YN Sharma the Principal of Ludhiana-based Guru Nanak Ayurvedic Medical College and Research Institute, said that the decision would hit the colleges financially. Since the management and NRI quota was only the source of funds for better facilities. “The state should take a call on deciding our fee structure since it will directly affect our working and facilities to students,” he said.

Other colleges complain that the fees for AYUSH courses have not been revised by the state government for last 5 years, whereas the fee for MBBS and MD courses have been revised twice during that period.

“The state government has sought our opinion on the new fee structure. We will respond by Monday, the registrar of Guru Ravidas Ayurved University Jatinder Garg said.

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