The Centre has increased the financial support from Rs 9 crore to Rs 70 crore to ensure more Ayush colleges are opened across the country, Union Ayush minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Saturday.
The Union minister for Ayush, Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sonowal said there are only a few Ayush colleges in the Northeast and the Indian traditional medicine systems can only be popularised by making available more qualified practitioners.
“For this purpose, more Ayush teaching colleges may be required to come up in the Northeast states,” Union minister Sonowal said.
“Earlier under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission provided financial support of Rs.9 crore to the state governments to open new Ayush colleges. Now, the Government of India has enhanced this amount to Rs.70 crore,” he said.
“States may identify the land and manpower for this purpose and avail this opportunity as per the guidelines of the NAM,” Sonowal added.
The Union minister said this while addressing a conference on ‘Diverse and Fulfilling Career Paths in Ayush Systems: Education, Entrepreneurship & Employment Focus on Northeastern States’ in Guwahati.
Sonowal said the Union Ayush Ministry also accorded in-principle approval for upgrading the Government Ayurvedic College, Jalukbari in Assam as the Centre of Excellence with the support of up to Rs 10 crore.
He said his Ministry provides Rs. 5 crore to upgrade the under-graduate teaching colleges and Rs. 6 crore to improve the infrastructure of postgraduate institutions.
The Union minister also announced starting of a Panchkarma Technician course affiliated to the Health Sector Skill Council – National Skill Development Corporation at Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), Guwahati with 10 seats for 10+2 students to produce skilled manpower for Panchkarma therapy in Northeast region and enhance the employment opportunities in that part of the country.
“Career opportunities in the Ayush sector for professionals of all disciplines have increased dramatically during recent years. Moreover, consequent to these efforts, faith in the Ayush systems has been restored among communities worldwide,” Sonowal said.
Assam minister for Health and Science & Technology and Information & Broadcasting, Keshab Mahanta was the guest of honour at the conference.