Shripad Yesso Naik, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), said on Saturday that the Union government was setting up AYUSH hospitals in 100 districts.
Speaking to presspersons after inaugurating the three-day conference on ‘cosmo therapy’ organised by the Gosval Institute of Vedic Education here, Mr. Naik said these hospitals were being constructed at a cost of ₹14 crore each. In the next phase, the government planned to extend these AYUSH hospitals to all districts of the country, he said.
Mr. Naik said his Ministry had also started 100 yoga parks in big cities. Next year, the department planned to start 150 more yoga parks. It was also providing yoga instructors for these parks, he said.
The Ministry had also started 28 information centres on AYUSH in other countries, where India had its embassy. The Ministry was trying to promote cooperation and research on AYUSH at the international level, he said.
ESI hospitals were also being told to provide treatment in ayurveda. The Ministry had an understanding with Ministries of Labour, Railways and Commerce in this regard. A yoga village had been started in Kerala. It was the first such village in the country, Mr. Naik said.
Earlier, inaugurating the conference, Mr. Naik said that the knowledge of yoga and ayurveda had been bequeathed to the country by ancient sages. Though ayurveda was popular, it suffered a setback when foreigners ruled the country.
But the disappointing fact was that it was yet to reach its stellar height even after 70 years of Independence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done his utmost to promote yoga on the international level, he said.
