Ashish Tripathi | TNN
Lucknow: Higher education institutes are in a fix in the state over the government order which directs them to establish herbal health care centres on their respective campuses. Besides free health check-ups every month, the centres would be training students to lead a healthy life through naturopathy and yoga.
Principals and heads of the institutions described the scheme as a wonderful initiative but wondered how they would implement the order in the absence of required funds. The order prescribes a fees of Rs 120 per student per month to be used to run the centres but institutions described it too little for creating required infrastructure equipped with experts, doctors, clerical staff and other office paraphernalia. What has added to the problem of the heads of the institutes is that the order warns about strict action including FIR, if an institution fails to execute the order in the coming session 2010-2011.
Based on a 2007 Supreme Court order on spreading awareness about environment conservation and healthy lifestyle among students, the state government first
issued the order in January 2009 but none of the universities and colleges in UP responded. Now a fresh order has been issued making it mandatory for every institute to implement the scheme. Similar orders will be soon issued for the state government departments. The department will deduct a specified amount from the medical allowance given to employees and officers to create such centres. District magistrates will be authorised to take action against the defaulters.
Regarding 12 universities and some 500 government and government-aided degree colleges, the order has laid specific guidelines: An office with a staff of six, appointment of doctors, environment experts, physiotherapists, physical trainers and yoga experts. Students will have to attend the health check-up camp twice in a month. Besides, they will get tips on use of medicinal plants and herbs as a preventive measure form falling prey to various diseases and how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Doctors will be from ayurveda, allopathy and homeopathy.
“Healthy human and environment through green herbs is our slogan,” said Dr KN Singh, project director of the scheme. “If implemented properly, the scheme will provide educated and healthy human resource required for the growth of the country,” he added. On funding, he said that Rs 120 per student per month is enough for an institute to run the centre. Regarding fees, he said today a student daily spends more than Rs 100 on telephone and things injurious to health.” Barring Kanpur and Lucknow Universities, no institute has responded so far. “Defaulters would face contempt of court and government action,” he said.
While president, Lucknow University Associated College Teachers’ Association, Moulindu Mishra said that the government should provide funds for the centre instead of passing the burden on to students, principals said fee hike would be the biggest hurdle as any such proposal easily becomes a political issue in the state. Further, colleges having less student enrolment will not be able to generate required funds from fees and minority community students may not participate in yoga.
“Considering low classroom attendance in colleges and universities, I doubt students will actually avail the facility,” said a principal.
HURDLES ALONG THE WAY
Fee hike might create a furore in universities and colleges.
How to bring students to centres when they don’t come to classes.
Funds through fees not sufficient to run the services and centre.
Who will pay for the poor students given free education facility.
Teachers oppose the provision of FIR and action against principals.
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