In a significant stride towards preserving and promoting traditional healthcare, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the foundation stone laying ceremony for the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR) in Pasighat on December 26. With a substantial investment of Rs 53 cr, the institute is poised to become a national hub for folk medicine, emphasising Ayurveda and research and development in the field.
Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister, highlighted the rich heritage of folk medicine, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prioritising its revival. He announced a new Sowa Rigpa centre in Arunachal Pradesh, underscoring the Government’s commitment to traditional healing practices.
Pema Khandu, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, commended NEIAFMR’s efforts to harness the Northeast’s folk medicine prowess. He emphasised the institute’s role in scientifically documenting and validating these traditional practices, extending their benefits beyond their geographical origins.
The expansion project includes an academic building, student hostels, staff quarters, and a director’s bungalow. These additions aim to accommodate 70 boys and 70 girls, fostering the growth of Ayurveda education. The investment will facilitate the establishment of an Ayurveda college, offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses over time.
The Chief Minister expressed optimism about the region’s diverse medicinal plants, foreseeing commercial opportunities in pharmaceutical, Ayurvedic, and aromatic sectors. The Engineering Projects (India) Limited, a Government of India enterprise, executes the project.
Sarbananda Sonowal, reiterating the Government’s dedication to traditional medicine, emphasised the importance of scientific validation for wider usage in pharmaceutical and patient care areas. NEIAFMR, under Prime Minister Modi’s vision, is poised to become the national hub for folk medicine, contributing to the nation’s quest for self-reliance in healthcare.
NEIAFMR, established to strengthen traditional healthcare focusing on the Northeast, serves as the apex Research Centre for Local Health Traditions (LHTs) and Ethno Medicinal Practices (EMPs). The institute is committed to proving the efficacy of traditional medicine through scientific validation.
Looking ahead, the Government aims to fortify NEIAFMR with additional infrastructure, including a Regional Raw Drug Repository, Museum, Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility, State-of-the-Art Panchakarma Treatment and Research Center, and a Paramedical Teaching Center.
As NEIAFMR expands its capacities, it stands at the forefront of preserving, validating, and advancing the rich heritage of folk medicine in the Northeast, contributing to the nation’s holistic healthcare landscape.
