Uttarakhand proposes ayush grams
The Uttarakhand government plans to convert 10 acres of land belonging to the Bhowali sanatorium, nestled in Nainital district’s kumaon hills, into an ayush gram.
An ayush gram will have a hospital with 100 beds, a wellness centre, a five-star hotel, a herbal garden, a yoga centre, a drug manufacturing unit and pharmacy, among other features. It is a dream project of Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. Set up in 1912, the 358-bed sanatorium has just one doctor today.
The herbal garden, which would be set up on 1,200 sq meters of land, will also have a specialised research centre to focus on local herbs and medicinal plants. There will also be a provision for training and skill development facilities for local people, in order to create new employment and business opportunities. An innovative hospital, complete with all the five features of AYUSH — Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy — will also be established.
According to government sources, an investment of a minimum of Rs 50 crore is proposed in each such project, and all 13 districts of the state will have an ayush gram each.
In the first phase, the government has invited request for proposals (RFPs) for the Bhowali project. But the response has not been satisfactory.
“We have received only two bids,” said Puja Bhardwaj, Director of the Ayuyeda and Unani department. Some developers, who have not applied, have made various suggestions, like extending the lease period of the land from 20 years to 40 years.