Itanagar: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, along with Chief Minister Pema Khandu, laid the foundation stones for capacity expansion at the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR) in Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday to further develop traditional healthcare in the Northeast.

The expansion project, boasting a total investment of Rs 53 crores, aims to bolster the infrastructure at NEIAFMR. Sonowal, addressing the gathering, underscored the invaluable contribution of folk medicine in enriching lives across generations. He emphasized the government's commitment to rejuvenate traditional medicine, including folk medicine, as a means to strengthen the healthcare system and enhance the overall quality of life.

Sonowal further highlighted the investment in additional infrastructure at NEIAFMR, positioning it as a catalyst to fortify research and development in Ayurveda and folk medicine specific to the region. He also announced the establishment of a new center focused on Sowa Rigpa in Arunachal Pradesh soon.

The NEIAFMR, dedicated to the preservation and development of traditional healthcare with a special focus on the Northeast, has been actively engaged in scientific documentation, recording, research, and validation of the folk medicine of the region. The expansion project includes the construction of an academic building as well as hostels for both male and female students, staff quarters, and a director’s bungalow. The hostels are designed to accommodate 70 boys and 70 girls from the institute.

The substantial investment will facilitate the establishment of an Ayurveda college at NEIAFMR, offering quality undergraduate courses in Ayurveda, including Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), with plans to introduce postgraduate courses in due course. The new Ayurveda college is envisioned to play a pivotal role in promoting and developing Ayurveda through education, research, and extension services.

The Engineering Projects (India) Limited, a Government of India enterprise, has been appointed as the executing agency for the project, overseeing the seamless implementation of the expansion initiative.

CM Khandu stated that the expansion was an opportunity to document age-old folk medicine scientifically. Khandu emphasized its potential for wider application in patient care beyond the traditional geographical boundaries.

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