The association of Ayurvedic diploma pharmacists organised an assembly march on Thursday to press for their demands. The members of the association assembled at the protest site near parade ground on the day and marched towards the state assembly where the special session was undergoing. The procession was stopped by the police near the Rispana Bridge barricade. Here the members of the association sat on a Dharna and engaged in vociferous protest. The association is demanding that the state government should fill the vacant posts of Ayurvedic pharmacists in the state health department. The other demand of the association is establishment of the Drugs and pharmacist act in the state. 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 members want that the government should issue licenses to the Ayurveda pharmacists and stop diploma programe in scores of colleges till the existing diploma holders get some employment.
later in the day, a delegation of the association was invited for talks with the state Chief Minister Harish Rawat. The President of the Association, Vijay Pal told The Pioneer that in the meeting the CM directed the officials to initiate process of recruitment in vacant posts of Ayurvedic pharmacists. He claimed that Rawat also assured them that the 112 Ayurvedic pharmacists would be employed in the hospitals of the state under National Health Mission (NHM). The President of the association said that the agitation of Ayurvedic pharmacists would continue till the Government Order (GO) fulfilling their demands is released.