Govt. approves Rs. 550 cr. package to upgrade Ayush bodies
New Delhi (PTI): The government has approved a package of Rs 550 crores for upgrading state-run centres offering education in alternative health programmes such as ayurvedic and homeopathy during the 11th Plan period.
"The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Friday gave its approval for implementation of the scheme of development of the Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (Ayush) Institutions with a plan outlay of Rs 550 crores in the 11th Plan," Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters after the CCEA meeting.
He said government aid to Ayush colleges under various heads would be revised for upgradation of various institutes.
A sum of Rs 2 crores has been sanctioned for Ayush colleges offering under-graduate courses from the previously allocated Rs 62 lakhs; the aid for institutions offering post-graduate courses has been revised to Rs 3 crores from Rs 2 crores and to Rs 5 crores from Rs 3 crores for model colleges.
The financial assistance would be based on college- specific upgradation plans, Chidambaram said.
"It will benefit in upgrading the infrastructure of Ayush teaching institutions for ensuring minimum standards laid down by statutory councils and raising the quality of Ayush education," he added.
The CCEA also gave its approval for implementation of the Rs 225 crores revised centrally sponsored scheme of drugs quality control as per the 11th plan provision.
"The implementation of this scheme of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy (ASU&H) will definitely improve upgradation of infrastructure at drug testing laboratories and state pharmacies. It will also ensure enforcement mechanism of ASU drugs at state levels," the minister said.
National
