At a time when a majority of dental colleges in the country are facing financial hardships caused by the Covid-19-induced lockdown, the Centre has added to their woes by increasing the inspection, application and annual fee of all the self-financed dental institutes.
For instance, yearly fee for recognised self-financed dental colleges having only Bachelor of Dental Studies (BDS) Course has been doubled to Rs 1 lakh while application fee for establishment of new dental colleges has been raised from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 9 lakh per college, as per a circular issued by the Dental Council of India (DCI), an autonomous body under the Union Health Ministry.
Similarly, for the inspections carried out at UG/PG/ PG diploma course in all specialities/dental materials/diploma course in dental mechanics/dental hygienists/dental operative room assistant (DORA) level in addition to yearly fee, fees one has to shell out Rs 1.50 lakh now against previous amount Rs 1 lakhs while renewal/periodic/ compliance verification recognition has been enhanced from Rs 2 lakhs to Rs 3 lakhs.
Application fee for starting of MDS Course/PG Diploma Course in all specialities/dental materials and application fee for increase of seats in BDS/MDS has been increased from Rs 3 lakhs to Rs 4.50 lakhs, as per the circular.
Also, application fee for starting diploma course in dental mechanics/dental hygienists/dental operative room assistant (DORA) has been revised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.50 lakhs. The GST at the rate of 18 per cent is also applicable on all the payments, reads the circular.
Last month, the DCI had also instructed all private dental colleges across the country to pay full salary and stipend to the faculties, students and other employees during Covid-19 Iockdown period and warned them of strict action in case they fail to do so.
The move followed several complaints from the teaching and non-teaching staff of non-payment and in many cases deduction in salaries and stipend to them by the dental colleges.
The Council also reminded the colleges about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministry of Labour and Employment's advisories issued from time to time, asking the private sector to not to deduct or cut the salary of the people working with the institutions in the tough times when Covid-19 has swept the world.