AIIMS students and faculty members at the first orientation programme on the Bhubaneswar campus. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 21: Classes for the first batch of students at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, began today with a four-day orientation programme for all its 48 students.

Among the students, who joined the institute here, 18 are from Odisha.

A majority of students are from Kerala (32 per cent). The batch also includes students from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, UP, Bihar and Assam.

Only 12 out of the 48 students are girls. AIIMS director Ashok Mahapatra said 20 out of the total sanctioned 24 faculty members had already joined the institute and there was sufficient faculty for the first batch of 48 students.

As the hospital is not ready, the students will be using the facilities at the government-run Capital Hospital in the city. The orientation programme is aimed at giving students extensive deliberations on a series of non-academic subjects such as spirituality, law, arts, humanities and culture.

“Eminent experts in different fields have been invited to address the students on various topics. Students will be told how to prepare themselves for a calm, peaceful and focussed life and also get accustomed to our environment,” said Tripathy.

Saswati Kar, a student from Odisha, said: “It was my dream to join AIIMS and I am excited that we have an AIIMS in Bhubaneswar now and I am finally here.”

“I had applied for AIIMS Delhi, but nevertheless I am happy that I got into this premier institute,” said Shilpa Srinath, another student.

“There would be some initial hiccups, but it does not matter as long as long as we have quality teaching in a premier institute like this,” said Swetansh Sinha, a student.

The institute director said that Phase-I of the campus had been delayed because of land problems, quitting of contractors midway and litigations.

The authorities have decided to accommodate the students at the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bhubaneswar.

“The students will be put up at the institute’s campus within a months as the Type II quarters will be ready by then,” said the authorities.