North East gets Rs 80 Cr allocation to boost Ayurveda

In a major boost to the initiatives to promote traditional medicinal practices in the Northeast (NE), Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH, has announced a slew of major initiatives. Sonowal has announced that in order to boost the education and training of Ayush medicinal experts, financial provision of Rs 70 crore, under National Ayush Mission (NAM) support, is to be provided for the establishment of a new Ayurvedic College at Dudhnoi in Goalpara, Assam. “The Ministry of AYUSH has also decided to upgrade the Government Ayurvedic College in Guwahati and develop it as a Centre of Excellence and a sum of Rs 10 crore as a financial grant is to be provided in this regard,” he added. Sonowal has also announced that as many as 1000 new Health & Wellness Centres (HWC), as part of the National Ayush Mission (NAM) Scheme, will be opened in the NE states for growth and development of Ayush systems. With an aim to boost the popularity of traditional medicines provided by Ayush, the minister also announced the setting up of 100 Ayush dispensaries under NAM in the North Eastern Region (NER).