Shillong, Oct 9: Union Minister of AYUSH and Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday assured support to promote the traditional system of medicines, Ayurveda in the Northeast, especially Meghalaya.
While speaking at the review meeting on North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homeopathy (NEIAH) and AYUSH sectors at Umiam, the minister assured infrastructural support to the the institute.
Stipend for interns; PG courses to start
“I have been informed that there are some issues in this institute. Infrastructure is required here. I assure you that we will provide the infrastructure. We will be taking steps for increase in stipend for the interns of the institute on a par with National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur “, said Sonowal.
He announced that the government will also take steps to start PG courses at the institute.
He asked the students and all associated to work hard in order to promote AYUSH. “I have a request for you. You have to compete with the best of the best in the world. You have to prove that this is the best institute in the world. You will have to put extra efforts,” he said.
The minister said the Northeast has to discover the potential in nature. “We will have to protect it. Ecology and economy have to go hand in hand. We will have to take care of the economy but not at the cost of ecology. AYUSH will remain as long as nature remains. AYUSH’s life lies on nature”, he said.
Wellness for all
Speaking about NEIAH, the minister said there are plans to promote the institute in a way that it assures wellness for everyone. “We will try to bring the medicinal plants available in the NE in our study area. The research findings will help prepare various medicines to treat illnesses,” he informed.
State PHE minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar referred to the abundance of natural resources in the region and added that the region accounts for 30 per cent of the plant species of the country which enables the country to account for 2.3 percent of the plant species in the world. The minister also urged the union Ayush minister to consider the feasibility of starting a manufacturing unit of Ayurvedic medicines at the institute itself.
The meeting was also attended by Vice Chancellor of NEHU Prabha Shankar Shukla, Director NEIGRIHMS Nalin Mehta, Advisor (Homeopathy) Ministry of AYUSH Sangeeta A Duggal, President of the National Commission of Indian System of Medicine B S Prasad, Director of NEIAH Rabindra Teron, officials of central and state government and students of the institute.
