“The ancient ayurvedic system of treatment of ours has been reduced to a miserable plight owing to gross neglect by the previous regime. This is amply proved from the fact that the previous government didn’t care to send any proposal for availing the grants bestowed by the Union Government for strengthening the ayurvedic system in the states.” This was disclosed here today by the Health, Medical Education and Research Minister, Punjab, Brahm Mohindra at the Government Ayurvedic College while addressing the college students and eminent personalities. The minister had arrived as Chief Guest at the Ayurvedic Mela (Ayurvedic Parv) being held at the Government Ayurvedic College Patiala from 25th-27th November by the All India Ayurvedic Congress, New Delhi in collaboration with the Ayush Ministry Government of India and the Punjab Government.
The Minister said that the present government in the state is fully geared up for and committed to making good the loss suffered by Punjab during past 10 years in ayurvedic education as well as research. On the occasion, the minister announced for Government Ayurvedic College Patiala the status of constituent college of Guru Ravidass Ayurvedic University, Hoshiarpur so as to improve its lot. The minister also announced to depute a nodal officer in respect of ayurved at the Chandigarh based headoffice of the Director Medical Education and Research.
Divulging further, Mohindra said that he would take up the issue of transferring Ayurvedic University Hoshiarpur at Patiala at appropriate governmental levels. The Health Minister on the occasion added that out of the Rs. 10 crore given every year for the university till date only Rs. 3 crore have been received. He demanded from Union Government Advisor the immediate release of balance amount to the tune of Rs. 7 crore. The minister also brought to the notice of the advisor that the Union Government has a mechanism of Rs. 2 lakh per dispensary per year for the purpose of medicines in 507 ayurvedic and unani dispensaries of Punjab but the State receives a meager Rs. 70000. He put forward emphatically the demand of Rs. 2.10 crore for repair of Government Ayurvedic College, library, laboratory, hostels, Rs. 90 lakh for furnitures, Rs. 4.50 crore for the maintenance and repair of 45 ayurvedic dispensaries throughout Punjab and Rs. 10 crore for the oldest Government Ayurvedic Pharmacy at Patiala as well as the development of store without delay from the Union Ayush Ministry. He also assured to fulfill shortly the staff crunch at the ayurvedic hospitals and the dispensaries.
On the occasion, the Advisor from the Union Ayush Ministry Dr. Manoj Nesri in his address said that since long time the Punjab Government or its concerned department has not sent any proposal for availing the grants sent by the ayush ministry for the development of ayurvedic system. He assured the Health Minister that any such proposal by the Punjab Government would be approved without delay.
Others who addressed on the occasion included MLA (Moga) Dr. Harjot Kanwal Singh, MLA (Samana) Mr. Rajinder Singh, MLA (Tarntaran) Dr. Dharamvir Agnihotri, President All India Ayurvedic Congress Padma Bhushan Devindra Triguna, Secretary Medical Education and Research Mr. Vikas Pratap, SSP Fazilka Dr. Ketan Pathak, Director Ayurvedic Punjab Dr. Rakesh Sharma, Senior Vice President of Nikhil Bhardvarshiya Vidyapeeth New Delhi Vaid Jagdish Singh, Secretary All India Ayurvedic Congress New Delhi Vaid Anil Bhardwaj and Dr. Sanjeev Goyal. The occasion was graced by the presence of Principal Government Ayurvedic College Dr. Ashwani Sharma, prominent personalities of ayurvedic field from all over the country and students as well as teachers of the college.
The minister also visited the exhibitions put up by the various companies and the institutions in the college premises. The eminent personalities were also honoured on the occasion.
