Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 17: Union Minister of State for AYUSH, Shripad Yesso Naik inaugurated the off-campus accommodation for the Government Ayurvedic Medical College (GAMC), Jammu in the premises of Government Ayurvedic Hospital here, today.
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Union Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat, Minister of State for Health & Medical Education, Asiea Naqash, MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, legislators, Rajesh Gupta, Dr. Krishan Lal Bhagat, Ramesh Arora, Girdhari Lal Raina ,Principal Secretary Health & Medical Education, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Union Joint Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Roshan Jaggi, Principal GMC and GAMC, Dr. Sunanda Raina were also present on the occasion.
Later, the Minister along with Dr Jitendra Singh and Bali Bhagat inaugurated the Unani Medical College in Sriangar also.
Addressing a jam-packed audience in the Auditorium of GMC after the inaugural ceremony, the Union Minister said that Government of India is committed to promote AYUSH sector in Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the State is blessed by the rich herbal potential and every effort will be made to make its best use for the patient care. He said the Government of India will consider all proposals of the State Government with regard to the promotion of AYUSH Sector with all sincerity and clear the same on priority.
Maintaining that AYUSH sector has witnessed tremendous growth in the country during the past over four years under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, he said its importance can be gauged with the creation of independent AYUSH Ministry and getting world-wide recognition of Yoga.
Responding to the demand projected by Bali Bhagat for establishing a National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Minister said that Government of India will explore all possibilities to set up this prestigious institution in this Himalayan region for the benefits of lakhs of people, especially the researchers. He also called for completing necessary formalities including acquisition of land for two 50-bedded sanctioned Ayurvedic hospitals at Kishtwar and Kupwara so that the funds are released at the earliest.
Dr. Jitendra Singh congratulated the people of Jammu for getting the gift of Ayurvedic College and said that it was a long pending demand of this region which has been met by the Central Government headed by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. He said Jammu and Kashmir has huge herbal medicinal potential and Central Government will tap it appropriately. He said the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is very keen to promote the AYUSH sector across the country as this century old traditional medicare system is trusted and affordable for all and without any side effect.
Dr Jitendra Singh while referring to setting up of AIIMS in Jammu however apprehended that we should not end up by setting up of a sick AIIMS here because the faculty coming from outside don’t get benefits in the State. “We should guard that it becomes a AIIMS for sick and not a sick AIIMS”, he added.
He said “we should have provision for the children of faculty for their admission in institutes and colleges besides other facilities here otherwise no one will be ready to come here”.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that it is no fun to construct buildings if there will be no doctors. He said the Government is planning to establish National Laboratory of Aromatic Plants in Bhadarwah.
Minister of Health and Medical Education,Bali Bhagat while castigating the previous regimes for ignoring this most genuine demand of Ayurvedic College for Jammu which existed in sixties and suddenly closed down by the then regime in 1979 without assigning any valid regions, said former Chief Minister Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah closed it without assigning any reason.
He said it is a pity that a functional Ayurvedic College was closed by Sheikh Abdullah when there was no such example any where in the country that a functional institute is closed. People of Jammu launched agitation for three months but the NC leader refuted to re-start the college.
He said later the successive Governments also failed to take initiative in establishing the Ayurvedic College in Jammu and credit for its establishment goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister of Ayush, Naik and MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh.
Bali Bhagat complimented the Union MoS AYUSH for his personal intervention in sanctioning the Government Ayurvedic Medical College for Jammu and said that it will give further impetus to the AYUSH sector in Jammu and Kashmir.
Asiea stressed the need for strengthening the AYUSH sector and early completion of Unani Medical College at Ganderbal.
Jugal Kishore Sharma, Pawan Kotwal and Roshan Jaggi also addressed the gathering.
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