Govt approves setting up of All India Institute of Ayurveda

The government has approved the setting up of All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) for imparting MD and Ph.D level education in the traditional medicine, Rajya Sabha was informed today.
"The Government has approved establishment of AIIA at Sarita Vihar in New Delhi. The Institute has been conceived as an apex institute of ayurveda with 200 bedded referral hospital for imparting education in the field of Ayurveda at MD and Ph.D level.
"The construction activities and procurement of medical equipment and furniture are at an advanced stage of completion," Minister of State, AYUSH Ministry, Shripad Yesso Naik in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha, said.

He said that research and development in AYUSH is undertaken in accordance with the objectives and strategies outlined in the 'National Policy for Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy-2002'.
"Central Government has set up Research Councils and implemented a Central Scheme of Extramural Research to undertake and support research and development activities including development of drugs in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy.
"80 units of the four Research Councils are functioning in the country. Adequate resources are provided to these initiatives inter-alia to facilitate development and discovery of such drugs, which are different from the classical formulations mentioned in the authoritative books," he said.

Replying to another question, he said that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has intimated that they have taken several measures to propagate yoga abroad starting with the celebrations of International Day of Yoga (IDY) on June 21 this year.
"The grand success of the event celebrated in 192 countries by millions of people have provided the impetus for continuing the activities and for celebration of IDY every year on June 21.
"The MEA has further contended that popularisation of yoga is an important aspect of India's cultural diplomacy for the promotion of yoga as civilisational heritage," the Minister said.