Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said that the State Government was promoting Ayurvedic treatment and added that Rs. 132 crore were being spent during the current financial year on strengthening the activities of the Ayurveda Department whereas Rs. 67.88cr were spent during 2007-08 on this. A record increase of 94 percent had been made in the budget for this, he added. He was addressing a public meeting at Solan today. Earlier Chief Minister inaugurated Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay District Ayurvedic Hospital Building constructed at a cost of Rs. 3 crore and Health and Skin Disease Treatment Camp at Solan.

Chief Minister said that best Ayurvedic treatment was being practised in Himachal Pradesh and added that State Government was encouraging this traditional treatment method for the benefit of common man. He said that the State Government was making efforts to develop Ayurveda College Paprola as Ayurveda University.

Prof. Dhumal said that the State Government had approved to fill up 330 posts of Ayurveda Doctors during last three and half years out of which 249 posts have already been filled up. He said that process of filling up of 300 posts of Ayurvedic Pharmacists was in progress. He said that in addition to these, 48 Class-III & IV employees have also been appointed, 283 daily wagers regularised and 476 part time workers had been made daily wagers. He said that construction work of 3 Ayurvedic Hospitals and 70 Ayurvedic Dispensaries have been completed and added that Rs. 22 crore were being spent on maintenance of 28 Ayurvedic Hospitals. He said that construction work of 220 Ayurvedic Dispensaries by spending Rs. 26 crore was in progress. He said that Drug Quality Institute was being setup at a cost of Rs. 5 crore at Jogindernagar and added that Rs. 3 crore have been released along with the approval for starting B-Pharma course in the State. He said that classes have been started in Jogindernagar College of Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Science from this month.

Chief Minister said that the State was heading towards becoming Anaemia free due to the concerted efforts of the State Government and added that check ups of 8,98,641 persons have been conducted in Kangra and Hamirpur Districts during the first phase.

He said that the PG seats in Government Post Graduate Ayurvedic College had been increased from 24 to 39 in order to make specialised treatment available to people. He said that Rs.2.06 crore were being spent on cultivating medicinal herbal plants in the State.

Prof. Dhumal said that efforts would be made to increase the number of beds in the 20 beded Solan Ayurvedic Hospital and added that 6 private wards would be created in the Hospital.

Shri Pawan Gupta, Chairman Baghat Bank alongwith other officers presented a draft of Rs. 51 thousand towards Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Chief Minister thanked them for the gesture.

Health Minister Dr. Rajeev Bindal welcome the Chief Minister. He said that developmental schemes worth Rs. 13 crore were dedicated to the people of Solan in a single day which was a record in itself.