Ayurveda students in the state have raised concerns over the internship training fees imposed on
them, specifically those studying at unaided Ayurveda colleges. In a joint effort to address this
issue, a request letter has been sent to the highest authorities in the state, including the Honorable
Governor, Honorable Chief Minister, Honorable Deputy Chief Minister, and the Minister of
Medical Education.
The current situation highlights a disparity in fees between students studying at government, aided, and unaided Ayurveda colleges. Students in unaided colleges are being charged an internship
training fee of Rs. 5,000, while their counterparts in aided colleges receive a stipend of Rs. 11,000,
with no extra internship fee. This discrepancy has placed an undue financial burden on the
shoulders of Ayurveda interns in unaided colleges.
The internship training period for these students lasts one year, during which they gain valuable
experience through hands-on clinical work. However, the cost structure for this training is not
equitable. The students are charged Rs. 2,500 by the district civil surgeon for three months of
training at a rural hospital and another Rs. 2,500 by the district health officer for three months of
training at a primary health center.
It is essential to ensure that all Ayurveda students, regardless of whether they study at government,
aided or unaided colleges have access to fair and affordable internship training. The request letter
urges the state authorities to consider a more balanced and inclusive approach to the fee structure,
which would alleviate the financial burden currently faced by students studying at unaided
Ayurveda colleges.
NIMA Student Forum looks forward to a positive response from the state government, which would
promote fairness and equality in the training of future Ayurvedic practitioners.