There is need for raising public awareness on the benefits of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), said the State Health and AYUSH Minister Surendra Singh Negi.
The Minister was speaking at an AYUSH awareness programme held under the aegis of AYUSH department, Uttarakhand and the Uttaranchal Ayurvedic College at the Town Hall in Dehradun on Saturday.
Referring to the Navgraha Vanaushadhi Vatika, the minister said that he was surprised and appreciative to learn that the impact of the planets on health can be treated with the help of medicinal herbs. Considering the tough geographical conditions of Uttarakhand, execution of various AYUSH schemes in the State requires more funds than needed in other States, he said.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli also shared his experiences related to AYUSH and said that traditional knowledge was the basis of medical treatment and healthcare even in the distant past.
Speaking on the occasion, principal secretary, AYUSH, Omprakash noted that it is easy to understand modern medicine system. Ayurveda should also be presented in a language that makes it easier to understand and elicits more interest. Ayurveda has to be established on the basis of modern scientific research. There is also need for a standard treatment protocol. Being a biodiversity rich State, there is need for conserving the rich environment. The State looks up to the Central Government for assistance in efforts aimed at linking AYUSH with tourism in Uttarakhand.
Earlier government officials informed the gathering about the grants of up to Rs 15 crore provided by the Government of India to AYUSH practitioners for conducting research, for establishment of special treatment centre, improvement of medicine production units and for establishment of treatment centres for public health. Earlier, students of Ayurveda took out a rally from Gandhi Park to the Town Hall to raise public awareness on AYUSH. Informative displays on Panch Karma, medicinal herbs and their uses and Navgraha Vatika were appreciated by visitors at the Town Hall. Uttarakhand Ayurveda director Dr AK Tripathi, Uttarakhand Ayurveda University vice chancellor Prof Satendra Mishra and others were present on the occasion.