U’khand to have Ayurveda AIIMS: Madan Kaushik

Minister holds review of Ayush Dept
my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 7 Apr:  Ayush and Ayush Education Minister Madan Kaushik today held a review meeting of the Ayush Deparment. During the meeting, the minister held a review of irregularities alleged in respect of Uttarakhand Ayurved University and directed the officials to take corrective measures. He also declared that Uttarakhand would have an Ayush AIIMS institution. It may be recalled that financial irregularities have been alleged involving around Rs 250 crores and discrepancies have also been alleged in recruitments at the Uttarakhand Ayurved University, which have now come under intense scrutiny. The vigilance department is presently conducting an inquiry into the matter. The ongoing developments have also led to difficulties in the disbursement of salaries to employees, while students have repeatedly staged protests over pending examinations.
Kaushik today convened a review meeting with departmental officials at the Assembly premises to take stock of the situation and deliberate on corrective measures. During the meeting, a detailed discussion was held not only on the issues pertaining to the Ayurved University but also on broader aspects of strengthening the Ayush framework in the state, including the proposed establishment of an AIIMS for Ayurveda in Uttarakhand.
The Minister underlined that the Ayush and Ayush Education Department hold significant importance for the state, noting that it presently oversees three government campuses, 13 district Ayurvedic and Unani service offices, 21 private colleges, 13 district homoeopathic offices and several other institutions. He stated that the issues concerning the Ayurved University were reviewed comprehensively and directed the constitution of a committee under the chairmanship of the Director General of Ayush and Ayush Education to ensure time-bound redressal of the problems.
Kaushik further instructed the officials to hold coordinated meetings with other related departments to expedite solutions and ensure that administrative bottlenecks are addressed without delay. On the proposal to establish an AIIMS for Ayurveda in the state, he directed the officials to identify 15 acres of land at the earliest, adding that he would soon take up the matter with the Union Ayush Minister to formally pursue the project.
Reminding of Uttarakhand’s prominence as a major centre of religious tourism, the Minister emphasised the need to integrate Ayurveda with the hospitality sector. He directed the officials to prepare a comprehensive plan to link dharamshalas and major hotels located at religious destinations with Ayurvedic services, in order to promote holistic wellness tourism in the state.
Kaushik also called for the formulation of an effective policy framework that could create a wider impact among the general public and position Ayurveda as a major resource for the state’s development. Efforts are also being made, he said, to implement a concept aimed at extending wellness, yoga and Panchakarma facilities to the block and Nyaya Panchayat levels, thereby strengthening grassroots healthcare delivery.
The Ayush Minister also reviewed the academic and research activities being undertaken by the Ayurved University and directed that all the matters related to the institution be examined point-wise to arrive at practical and sustainable solutions. He stressed the need for improving both the quality of education and research output.
During the meeting, providing an overview of the existing infrastructure under Ayurvedic and Unani services, the officials informed that the state has approximately 852 hospitals, supported by 5,491 Ayurvedic doctors, 1,226 homoeopathic doctors, 201 Unani doctors, 10 Siddha doctors and 18 naturopathy doctors, in addition to pharmacists, nurses and support staff. Taking note of vacancies, the Minister directed officials to send requisitions at the earliest and initiate the process to fill vacant posts to strengthen service delivery.
Senior officials, including Secretary Ayush Ranjana Rajguru and Director Vijay Kumar Jogdande, along with other departmental officers, were present during the meeting.