Dharamsala: Ayurveda Medical Officers Association organised “Samman Samaroh’ at Tibetan Children Village auditorium at Dharamsala.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, while addressing the event vowed his government commitment for conserving and promoting the herbal wealth of the state.
He said Ayurveda, an indigenous Indian medicine system was being practiced since time immemorial and today it had registered strong presence in the modern medicinal science, Ayurvedic system of medicine had been well integrated into the National health care system paving the way for health rejuvenation and longevity, and in Himachal Pradesh the government had laid special emphasis to strengthen Ayurvedic system of medicine. He added that Rs. 203 crore were being spent for Ayurveda department during this fiscal.
The Chief Minister said that Himachal was a treasure house of herbal and aromatic medicinal plants and herbs and the State was promoting the herbal wealth to provide a sustainable supply of raw material to the pharmaceutical industry. The herbal gardens at Jogindernagar in district Mandi, Neri in Hamirpur, Jangal Jhaelra in Bilaspur and Dhamrera in Shimla district were catering to the needs of the Ayurveda health institutions.
He said for procurement of the essential medicinal herbs, the Government of India had sanctioned a sum of rupees Rs 202 lakh and about Rs.22 lakh for upgrading the Ayurveda institutions in the State besides sanctioning an amount of rupees 35 lakhs for ‘Arogya festivals’ in the State. A separate Ayurveda department was created in the year 1984 so as to propagate the Indian medicinal system throughout the State.
Virbhadra Singh said besides two regional hospitals at Paprola and Shimla, as many as 1109 Ayurveda Health Centers were providing quality health services to the people of the State. The patients were also being treated through naturopathy and at present one nature care unit was functional at Oel in Una. Besides, three Ayurveda Pharmacies had been set up at Jogindernagar in Mandi, Majra in Sirmaur and Paprola in Kangra.
He said the exhaustible research and innovation in the field has given edge to Ayurveda in the western world too. According to one of the National Health Interview Survey more than three lakh people in the United States were using India’s traditional medicinal system and the Ayurveda is being now adopted as the alternate source of treatment in different corners of the world.
The Chief Minister also honoured Dr. Y.P.S. Sharma for his initiatives for promoting the ancient Ayurveda system.
Chief Minister also released a souvenir and a calendar on the occasion and assured to fulfill and consider all the demands in times to come.
The association donated a cheque of Rs. 4.51 lakh to the Chief Minister towards the Chief Minister Relief Fund.
Earlier, Dr. Dinesh Kumar, President of the association welcomed and honoured the Chief Minister and detailed about the steps being taken to promote the Ayurveda system of medicines.
Technical Education, Transport & Food and Civil Supply Minister, G.S. Bali, Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma along with other dignitaries were present at the occasion.
