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New Delhi : The Centre has enhanced financial support to open Ayush colleges from Rs 9 crore to Rs 70 crore. Union Ayush, Ports, Shipping & Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on September 11, 2021, said that the central government has increased the financial support from Rs nine crore to Rs 70 crore to ensure more Ayush colleges are opened across the country. He was addressing a conference on ‘Diverse and Fulfilling Career Paths in Ayush Systems: Education, Entrepreneurship & Employment Focus on North eastern States’ at Guwahati, Assam.
The Union minister said that there are only a few Ayush colleges in the North-East 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 North East States. Earlier under Centrally Sponsored Scheme, National Ayush Mission (NAM) provided financial support of Rs 9 crores to state governments to open new Ayush colleges. Now, the Government of India has enhanced this amount to Rs 70 crore. States may identify the land and manpower for this purpose and avail this opportunity as per the guidelines of the NAM,” Sonowal said.
Sonowal added that the Ministry of Ayush has also accorded in-principle approval for upgrading the Government Ayurvedic College, Jalukbari, Assam, as the Centre of Excellence with the support of up to Rs 10 crore. He said that his Ministry provides Rs 5 crore to upgrade the under-graduate teaching colleges and Rs 6 crore to improve the infrastructure of post graduate institutions, according to a PIB release.
The minister also announced the start of a Panchkarma Technician course affiliated to 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 NE 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 cesystems has been restored among communities worldwide,” Sonowal said. He added that Ayush has a great potential to cater to a large number of healthcare needs of people and contribute to the growth and development of this country.
Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Science & Technology and Information & Broadcasting in the Government of Assam, Keshab Mahanta, was the guest of honour at the conference.