Research Institute (AIARI), managed by Bharatiya Vaidyak Samanvaya Samiti (BVSS), which also runs the Pakwasa hospital in Mahal and Ayurved Mahavidyalaya at Hanuman Nagar has finally been wound up. Its 18 employees have also been given marching orders.
On Friday, when the employees reached the institute, they were shocked to see an official order pasted on the board stating closure of out patient department (OPD) and in patient department (IPD) from August 1. The 18 permanent employees including eight women have been left unemployed. Interestingly, the institute has recognition until 2011 from Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (SIRO) under Union ministry of science and technology.
A brainchild of late Pt Shivkaran Sharma Chhangani, the institute was set up 22 years ago in 1987 with an aim to carry out intensive research on deadly diseases and make general public aware of the treatments of Ayurveda. However, the idea seems to have collapsed after the passing away of Chhangani a few years ago.
Stunned by the samiti's decision, the employees staged protests and charged the Samiti with taking away their livelihood. "All of us are in their 40s and have no chance of getting a job elsewhere. Most of us are working with the institute since its inception. In 2007, when the Vaidyak Samiti took possession of the institute, we were promised that we would be absorbed in Ayurved Mahavidyalaya. However, we have been ditched," alleged office superintendent Kiran Chourasia, who is employed for 23 years.
The research institute was constructed out of donations and is also equipped with basic infrastructure to treat patients. On an average daily there is flow of 100 OPD-IPD patients both from Pakwasa hospital and institute. If the Ayurved institute alone is considered, it earns roughly Rs 45,000 per month while its salary bill is about Rs 70,000 per month. The employees say one of the reasons for losses is that the institute also carries the load of patients from samiti-run Pakwasa hospital.
However, the management committee has expressed helplessness in the matter. Damodardas Bhutada, secretary of BVSS, justified the move to close down the institute. He said, "The institute is bleeding with income less than expenses. It is suffering a loss of around Rs 50,000 per month. We tried to pull on despite not getting any government grant. We receive only salary grants for college. It is an executive body decision taken long back."
Bhutada further said the employees were intimated about the decision three months ago. "We are also ready with the balance payment and dues of the employees," he added. However, employees have refused to collect their cheques and have threatened to move the court.
BVSS member Ramkrishna Chhangani says the decision to close down the institute was taken in May. "The institute was founded by my father and it is unfortunate that we have to close it down. Twice, I had quit on the issue but now even I can't help. We have no additional source of income.
The management quota from which we could earn has been withdrawn. Due to lack of staff and infrastructure, seats in the college are limited. As per UGC norms, salary of a professor is Rs 65,000 and our income is Rs 70,000. The college's recurring expenses are met from fees, he stressed.
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