Ayurvedic education system faces neglect in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

The Ayurvedic Education System (AES) faces neglect in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

The Ayurvedic Education System (AES) seems to be neglected in both the Telugu States.

Government statistics show that there are only 169 students — 106 in Andhra Pradesh and 63 in Telangana — in the five colleges, three in Andhra Pradesh and two in Telangana, for the academic year 2022-23.

However, the AES is doing well in the neighbouring Karnataka, which ranks second in the country in terms of number of colleges (88) and students (4,002).

The abysmal status of Ayurvedic education in the Telugu States is attributed to lack of focussed approach in terms of allocation of special funds, increasing the number of colleges-cum-hospitals, creating jobs and promoting Ayurvedic treatment for minor ailments.

Though the government designs specific schemes such as Centre of Excellence with a fund of ₹10 crore, but they are meant only for existing institutions.

Private investors are not coming forward to set up colleges due to poor yields from the AES. A minimum of ₹10 crore is needed to set up an Ayurvedic institution with 100 seats and 100- bed hospital. The cost will be the same for opening an MBBS college. The four-year UG Ayurvedic course fee is ₹15 lakh whereas the MBBS course fee will be much higher. So, private players prefer to run MBBS colleges.

D. Lakshmana Chary, principal of the privately-owned Sri Adi Siva Sadguru Alli Saheb Sivaaryula Ayurvedic Medical College, Guntakal, said, “Even 10 more colleges are not enough as the demand in Andhra Pradesh is high for the course.”