The governments latest decision to end the ad-hoc arrangement by posting a regular Principal at Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College at Tanda in Kangra district has come as a good news for the institution,which is steadily heading towards better research and educational practices. Two years after springing to limelight following the ragging death of MBBS student Aman Kachru on March 8,2009,complete normalcy has now returned in functioning of the medical college. Dr Anil Chauhan,Professor of Ophthalmology Department,who had taken charge of the medical college at the time of crisis two years ago as ad-hoc arrangement,has now been promoted as regular Principal of RPMC Tanda. His promotion recommendation by Departmental Promotion Committee was officially notified by Principal Secretary Health PC Dhiman on February 17. After the unfortunate ragging death incident,our first goal was to make the environment peaceful,generate confidence among students and ensure involvement of community in the process of normalcy. And to have a ragging free campus,we became the first professional college in the country to have a Parent Teacher Association,headed by the parent of a medical student,which was followed by others,says Dr Chauhan. Initiating crucial steps in research,the institution has set in motion a process of establishing database and baseline studies to carry out future research about needs of local medical research and treatment. The sub-centre at Rajhiyana catering to three panchayats in its vicinity has been adopted for such studies. ICMR,besides awarding 14 research projects to the medical college,has also chosen the institution for collaboration in setting up a state-of-the-art centre for comprehensive research for investigation and treatment practices and prevalent disorders in Hamirpur. The WHO has also declared RPMC as a fellowship centre for Ayush studies,informs the principal. Evidence of overall improvement in the college can be gauged from the fact that last years batch of MBBS final year students had a 100 per cent result and the Government of India also upgraded the provisional recognition of our MBBS course to a permanent one,said the principal.
