PASIGHAT, The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH, Sarbananda Sonowal today visited North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR) at Pasighat and reviewed the progresses. During his maiden visit to NEIAFMR, the union minister attended a review cum public meeting.
The dignitaries present on the occasion included the Health and Family Welfare Minister, GoAP, Alo Libang, Pasighat West MLA Ninong Ering, Dibrugarh MLA Prasanta Phukan, NEIAFMR Director Dr. Rabindra Teron, Dy. Secretary AYUSH, GoI Yash Veer Singh, East Siang DC Dr. Kinny Singh, SP Sumit Kr. Jha and others.
Addressing the gathering, the union minister informed that the North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine (NEIFM), Pasighat has been renamed as North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Folk Medicine Research and it is an autonomous National Institute under the Ministry of AYUSH. It was established by the union ministry on 21st February, 2008 last. NEIAFMR with the goal to strengthen and develop traditional healthcare practices and for the benefit of the nation, with special focus on North Eastern region. The Institute intends to Introduce Ayurveda system of medicine in North Eastern Region in general and in Arunachal Pradesh in particular, document and assess Local Health traditions, Healing Knowledge, Drugs Therapeutic product development based on traditional knowledge, protection of traditional knowledge and traditional practices.
To promote and propagate AYUSH sector in the entire North Eastern Region, Sonowal today assured to grant 100 Crs for development of NEIAFMR. Out of which 53.72 Crs will be utilized for infrastructure development within the NEIAFMR campus.
Minister Sonowal asserted that Folk medicine is the mixture of traditional healing practices and beliefs. In Northeast, people have a strong culture of folk medicine which have not been preserved in a scientific way. His ministry is now striving towards preserving as well as enriching this wonderful gift of medicine from Vedic era that Mother-Nature has bestowed upon us. “I am happy to announce the establishment of new ‘Ayurveda College for thirty students’ and a ‘sixty bedded Ayurveda hospital’ here. This is going to strengthen our effort through NEIAFMR to preserve the rich traditional knowledge. Apart from strengthening our Ayurveda colleges in the region, a few other important institutes like Regional Raw Drug Repository (RRDR) & Museum, Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility (SAIF), State of Art Panchakarma Treatment & Research Centre and Paramedical Teaching Centre are planned to be set up in the region in due course,” he said elucidating about the future plans for propagation of AYUSH sector.
Sonowal lauded the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that Madi has made the impossible as possible with his strong will and thinking ahead of the time. The PM has made an outstanding contribution in building a strong and self-reliant nation. He has worked like a karma-yogi and infused people with self-confidence about making a new India. The union minister also appreciated the dynamism of the Chief Minister Pema Khandu saying that he has given his all for the upliftment of the poor and prosperity of the state. Today people of Arunachal Pradesh witness developments on very wide scale, he added.
State’s H&FW Minister Alo Libang in his brief speech assured that all possible help and cooperation will be extended by the state government for further development of NEIAFMR. Highlighting the untapped potential of inland waterways, Libang urged for new initiatives for development under centrally funded projects in waterways sector according to the prospects, potential and strength of water transportation mode.
NEIAFMR Director Dr. Rabindra Teron also spoke on the occasion.
