The administrative building of CIP in Kanke, Ranchi. Picture by Hardeep Singh

The problem of teacher crunch that had prompted the students of Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) to hit the protest path in August looks set to be solved finally.

The Union ministry of health and family welfare and Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) have allowed the Kanke-based mental healthcare institute to hire faculty members on contract. Last month, CIP brought out a notice on its website, advertising for the posts of three assistant professors of clinical psychology, two assistant professors of psychiatric social work and one clinical psychologist.

The walk-in-interview will be held on the campus at 9.30am on October 21. The duration of the contract will be one year or till the time the post is filled up by a regular candidate or whichever is earlier.

Institute director Daya Ram said: “I have been constantly pursuing the matter of recruiting faculty with the Union ministry and DGHS. Finally, we have got the permission to hire teachers on contract basis, which will go a long way in helping us to cope with the existing crisis.”

The MPhil students of clinical psychology and psychiatry social work had gone on an indefinite strike on August 26 in favour of a host of demands, the major one being appointment of permanent faculty members. Notably, the Rehabilitation Council of India had refused to grant recognition to MPhil since 2009 in the absence of enough number of teachers. The strike was called off on September 3.

The same students are not only happy now, but also expressed their gratitude to Mishra and Ram for taking prompt action. “We are glad that our demands are being fulfilled,” said a second-year MPhil student of clinical psychology.

CIP offers 18 MPhil seats in clinical psychology and 12 in psychiatric social work. But the faculty strength does not meet RCI guidelines.

At present, the department of clinical psychology has one assistant professor, one clinical psychologist, two assistant psychologists and one lab assistant. Psychiatric social work has two assistant professors, one senior and one junior psychiatric social workers — both non-teaching staff.

Meanwhile, highly placed sources said that the Union health ministry and DGHS have also initiated the process to give autonomy to CIP in taking certain decisions like hiring faculty members on contract. Under the present system, CIP has to seek permission from the central bodies before taking any decision as it functions directly under the ministry and DGHS.