The Union Cabinet today approved the establishment of the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy in Shillong as an autonomous organization under the Department of AYUSH at a cost of Rs. 67.51 crore.

The decision will facilitate promotion of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy, the expansion of health care, improvement in the doctor-population ratio and R and D on bio-resources in the North East.

There are a total of 225 Ayurveda colleges and 181 Homoeopathy colleges in the country, out of which only one Ayurvedic College in Assam and three Homoeopathy colleges in Assam and Arunachal pradesh are in the North East.

There are no teaching institutions in other States of the North East, even though there is considerable demand for Ayurveda and Homoeopathic systems in North Eastern States.

Shillong is a central place in the north East where students and patients from the other North Eastern states can avail the facilities of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy in the proposed institute.

Source-ANI
SRM/L