Dr Ranjan pitches for Panchakarma Centre at Loktak

GUWAHATI, Aug 26
Health Minister Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh has made a proposal to Union Minister of Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal to set up a special Panchakarma Centre in the middle of Loktak Lake.
The State Health Minister made the proposal during the Regional Review Meeting of the North Eastern States chaired by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Panchakarma is a treatment programme to cleanse and rejuvenate the body, mind and consciousness. It is based on the principle that everything in this universe is made of the five basic elements of nature—ether, air, fire, water and earth.
Panchakarma, derived from Sanskrit, translates to “five actions” or “five treatments”.
It is a cleansing process that discharges stored toxins and restores the body’s natural healing abilities.
The Regional Review Meeting in Guwahati was ceremonially inaugurated by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal.
Manipur Health Minister Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh, Arunachal Health Minister Alo Libang, Mizoram Health Minister Dr R Lalthangliana, Sikkim Health Minister Kunga Nima Lepcha and Finance Minister of Tripura, Pranajit Singha Roy attended the meeting physically.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, "PM Narendra Modi led Government has approved for operationalisation of 12,500 Ayush Health & Wellness Centres (AHWCs) by the Ministry of Ayush through State Governments as a component of Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of National Ayush Mission (NAM) in a phased manner by 2023-24."
The main objectives are to establish holistic wellness model based on AYUSH principles and practices, to empower masses for “self care” to reduce the disease burden, out of pocket expenditure and to provide informed choice to the needy public, he said.
The Ministry of Ayush has released Rs 449.64 crore to NE States under NAM from 2014-15 to 2022-23. The Ministry has also supported 33 Integrated Ayush Hospitals in NE States from 2014-15 to 2022-23 and out of these 09 are operational as reported by States.
Out of 12,500 AHWCs, the Ministry has supported 879 AHWCs in NE States and out of these 492 are reported functional by the NE States, he said.
“Today we had a very fruitful discussion on the promotion and propagation of Ayush system of medicine in the North East region of the country. The people of North East region can realise the vision of Prime Minister Modi as the engine of India’s movement towards holistic healthcare, further boost the traditional medicine practices and become hub of an Ayush led economic growth, promoting employment and trade for the region," Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said.
He called on all the States of the North East to explore the possibility of setting up an Integrated Ayush Department in all its leading State hospitals, in line with the setting up of similar Departments in all 19 AIIMS, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
National Ayush Mission (NAM) is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Ayush. The objective of the Regional Review Meeting was to review the implementation of NAM in NE States and knowledge sharing between the States, National Institutes and Peripheral Research Institutes under Research Councils of Ministry of Ayush and their active support for implementation of NAM Scheme.