Kohima: The Union Minister of Ports Shipping (PSW) & Waterways and AYUSH, Sarbananda Sonowal announced a major investment of more than ₹100 crores to develop the AYUSH Healthcare sector in the state of Nagaland today. One 30 bedded AYUSH hospital and three 10 bedded hospitals along with one Ayurvedic college which will be developed in the state with the allocated funds.
An integrated AYUSH Hospital was also inaugurated by the Union Minister at Razha Chedema in Kohima earlier today. The 30 bedded AYUSH hospital will be developed at Kihpire while the 10 bedded AYUSH hospitals will be developed, one each at Mokokchung, at Nagaland University in Dimapur & Wokha. In order to give the higher education in AYUSH a fillip in the region, the Union Minister announced setting up of a state-of-the-art Ayurvedic college at Longleng. The cost of this college is estimated at ₹ 70 crores.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “The Northeast has an immense potential to become the hub in the AYUSH sector. The beautiful state of Nagaland is no exception with a lot of potential to be tapped. With our rich traditional knowledge base in folk medicine & the bounty of flora that Mother Nature has blessed us with, it is important that we seize this opportunity. We can become the springboard for AYUSH sector in the country and create an eco-system to provide health & wellness solutions for people of India as well as our neighbouring countries. This will give us economic strength and our community will be blessed with a healing touch to treat human illness.”
The Ministry of AYUSH has been making a sincere attempt to unlock the huge value that the rich bio-diverse region of Northeast possess. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a vision to unlock this potential to empower people of Northeast & region to become the driver of the new growth engine of India. The PM has directed the government to commit and provide all the platforms for Northeast so that the region can seize their opportunity. The AYUSH Minister – guided by this vision to enable the people of Northeast – has provided a shot in the arm for the AYUSH sector in the region with an investment of ₹172 crores – in Nagaland and Mizoram put together. As many as ten new AYUSH hospitals will be built in these two states and one Ayurvedic college will be built.
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Speaking about the role of AYUSH in propelling growth & wellness in the region, the Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal further added, “Our vision is to empower the rich Indian traditional medicinal practices – be it Ayurveda, Yoga, Unnani, Siddha, Homoeopathy, Naturopathy, Sowa Rigpa – with modern scientific validation for wider & popular usage by the people. Our folk medicines have been helpful in treating human civilisation since time immemorial. It is important that they are preserved – using modern scientific approach & tools – so that they can be useful for generations to come.The holistic approach to patient care & healthy lifestyle includes both preventive as well as curative aspects. The AYUSH traditional medicinal practices have been traditionally taking care of both these aspects.”
Talking about the steps taken to preserve & conserve the folk medicine in the region, the Union AYUSH Minister said, “In order to learn & leverage the folk medicine, the AYUSH ministry is conducting a multi centric research project to critically appraise and validate Local Health Traditions (LHT), Oral health Traditions (OHT) and Ethno Medicinal Practices (EMP) among ethnic communities of the Northeast.”
The Minister of Health & Family Welfare of Government of Nagaland, S Pangnyu Phom and Minister of Urban Development & Municipal Affairs of Government of Nagaland, Dr Niekiesalie Kire along with senior officials of Nagaland government and AYUSH ministry attended this meeting.
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