IMPHAL, Jul 19: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has given permission to RIMS Dental College to admit students for the academic session 2016-17.
A missive to this effect was received by the RIMS Dental College Principal from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Dental Education Section) Under Secretary DVK Rao this afternoon.
Notably, a two-day general body meeting of the Dental Council of India (DCI) held on June 11 and 12 this year decided not to give recognition to RIMS Dental College.
Nonetheless, RIMS Dental College, being an institution functioning under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has been granted permission to admit students for 2016-17 session under the Dentist (Amendment) Act 1993, Section 10A(I).
Speaking to media persons at RIMS A-Block this afternoon, RIMS Director Prof Ch Arunkumar remarked that the nagging fear about jeopardising the career of the students of RIMS Dental College has been removed as the Ministry has allowed the college to undertake admission of students for the academic session 2016-17.
Following the observation of DCI that RIMS Dental College was lacking in many aspects, RIMS authority has been working to make up the shortfalls and shortages.
As a result of these efforts, an extension block of the college has been inaugurated today, Prof Arunkumar said.
RIMS Deputy Director (administration) Y Rajendro recalled that when DCI inspectors inspected the college last year, they observed that the college was lacking both infrastructure
and manpower.
Since then, RIMS authority has been working to make up these shortages and shortfalls since last year but without much success.
Any recommendation made by DCI regarding a dental college is also sent to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Based on the recommendation, the Ministry calls the authority of the dental college and conducts personal hearing.
During the hearing, the hearing committee enquired about the deficiencies and if the deficiencies can be made up.
After such a hearing ended in failure last year, another hearing was held on June 27 this year for RIMS Dental College.
All the seven North Eastern States are beneficiaries of RIMS Dental College and many students who came for admission last year went back dejected as the college was not allowed to admit students, Rajendro said.
Some students event approached the Court. Taking serious note of these disappointing incidents, senior officers of RIMS pledged to work collectively so that all the deficiencies plaguing RIMS Dental College are made up as soon as possible.
Now all vacant posts have been filled up and there are adequate equipment. Counting the already existing ones, the college has now 100 dental chairs.
During the personal hearing on June 27, RIMS authority gave point by point clarification to all the observations/remarks made by DCI inspectors in April this year regarding RIMS Dental College.
RIMS authority also appealed the Ministry to allow the college admit students without giving undue importance to the observations of DCI inspectors.
Subsequently, the Ministry acquiesced to the appeal, Rajendro said.
RIMS Medical Superintendent Prof M Amuba was also present at the press meet.
