BANGALORE: Speaking at the valedictory function of the International Conference on Yoga and Naturopathy and Arogya Expo 2012, on Sunday, Minister for Medical Education S A Ramdas announced that 10 tribal Gram Panchayats in the forest areas of the state would be adopted by private institutions to promote AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy). Also, on the occasion, he said that October 2 would be observed as Naturopathy Day.
Every Gram Panchayat will be entitled for Rs 1 crore government grant, and the minister said that Rs 10 crore had already been released. “It is a 3-year project. The chief minister will inaugurate the project on March 3 in Mysore,”he said.
Adding to the initiatives taken by the state government, the minister said that an exclusive state-of-the-art research and training facility along with International Working Group for Yoga, and Naturopathy would be established for Department of AYUSH. “We will also consider establishing a Yoga and Naturopathy Council for the state,” he added.
The government also plans to establish an AYUSH rehabilitation unit for HIV care with the help of yoga and naturopathy treatment. “This centre will be near Belgaum, and if we succeed, it will be a milestone in medical care,” Ramdas said.
Over 300 research papers were presented by 21 international speakers, 136 national speakers at the event. The Arogya Expo will be extended till Monday.