In support of their various demands, the association of Ayurveda diploma pharmacists of Uttarakhand took out a rally here on Wednesday. The members of the association assembled at the protest site near the parade ground and shouted slogans against the State Government for ignoring their justified demands. The association then took out a rally which passed through Kanak Chowk, Gandhi Park, Parade ground and culminated at the protest site. The president of the association, Vijay Pal Payal said that the State Government should appoint 180 Ayurveda pharmacists in the Government hospitals along with the Ayurveda medical practitioners.
He said that 100 posts of the Ayurveda pharmacists are also lying vacant in the hospitals under National Health Mission (NHM). The association is also demanding that the State Government should direct more than 180 herbal companies stationed in the state to employ at least one pharmacist. The president said that the Government should issue licenses to the Ayurveda pharmacists and stop diploma programme in scores of colleges till the existing diploma holders get some employment. He threatened that the association would intensify its agitation if the Government continues to ignore their demands.