Ayush doctors

Uttarakhand to set up 13 ayush grams

PTI | 01:04 PM,Apr 10,2011

Dehradun, Apr 10 (PTI) Bhowali sanatorium in Nainital district, where Kamala Nehru was admitted during her last days, is all set to become the first Ayush Gram comprising a hospital, a wellness centre, a hotel and a herbal garden. Under a new project initiated by the Uttarakhand government, all the 13 districts of the state will have one ayush gram each.The government has provided a total of 10 acres of the sanatorium's land for the purpose of developing ayush gram, a dream project of Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.An Ayush gram comprises five features -- Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.Kolkata-based Emami group, which is enhancing its presence in the ayurvedic sector, has signed an MoU with the state government for setting up the ayush gram at Bhowali in Kumaon region under the PPP mode.The MoU came after the company won the contract for ayush gram through open bidding route.Emami, which has formed a consortium with a Rishikesh-based ashram and a hotel company, would develop the 358-bed sanatorium, established in 1912.The sanatorium is virtually lying closed as there is only one doctor.The herbal garden, which would be set up at 1200 sq metre area, will also have a specialised research centre to focus on the local herbs and medicinal plants.In the herbal garden, there will be a provision for training and skill development facilities for local people in order to create new employment and business opportunities.According to government sources, a minimum investment of Rs 50 crore is proposed in each ayush project with government already identifying land at Champawat and Pithoragarh districts.But in the rest of the 10 districts, the government has been unable to identify land for this purpose."We are trying our best to identify lands in the remaining districts," said a government official.During the past few months, the Chief Minister, who has been closely monitoring various developmental projects, has told the concerned officials to search for land on top priority basis.