Rajya Sabha gives nod for Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill

Rajya Sabha passed the Institute of teaching and research in Ayurved Bill, 2020. The Bill aims to enhance the Ayurveds sector in the country.

The Rajya Sabha today passed the Institute of teaching and research in Ayurveda Bill, 2020. The Bill suggests merging of three Ayurveda institutes into one institution – Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda. The Bill declared the institute to be an institution of National Importance.The Bill was moved by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan. The Bill was moved in absence of Ayush Minister Sripad Naik, who is currently recovering from COVID-19.

“The ministry is giving deemed University status to the institutes in various parts of the country and the matter is referred to the University Grants Commission and Education Ministry,” the Union Health Minister informed the House.

He further said that there are 103 institutes of national importance, across the country, but there was none in Ayurveda. The Jamnagar institute has been chosen as the institution of national importance as it is the oldest institutes in the country founded by the Government of India in 1956.It was the oldest collaborating centre with WHO in Ayurveda and has imparted training to students from 65 countries in 20 years, he said and added that the institute has inked 30 pacts with different countries in the last 20 years.

Lok Sabha has already approved the bill in the last session, in which three Jamnagar, Gujarat-based institutes -- Institute of Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gulabkunwerba Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya and Institute of Ayurveda Pharmaceutical Sciences --would be conglomerated.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan expressed appreciation for Ayurveda and its usefulness for the society and also for strengthening the healthcare systems of the world.

"Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine in the country with so much of traditional wisdom attached," he said and added that under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', the government has approved Rs 4000 crore for the cultivation of medicinal plants and supporting farmers.

The proposed institute will have a 15-member committee that will include Minister of Ayush, Secretary of Ayush and Secretary of Health & Family Welfare of the Gujarat Government, along with three MPs in which two would be from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha.

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