Union Minister and Chief Minister Lay Foundation for ₹53 Crore Expansion at NEIAFMR, Elevating Folk Medicine in Arunachal Pradesh
Pasighat, December 26, 2023 – In a momentous event, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, and Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Pema Khandu, joined forces to lay the foundation stone for a ₹53 crore capacity expansion at the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR) in Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh.
The distinguished gathering included Pasang Dorjee, Speaker of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Alo Libang, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Women & Child Development, and Tribal Affairs, Govt of Arunachal Pradesh; Tapir Gao, MP (Lok Sabha) for Arunachal East; Kaling Moyong, MLA of 38 Pasighat East; Ninnog Ering, MLA of Pasighat West; Gumjhum Haider, State Information Commissioner of Arunachal Pradesh; Prof Tomo Riba, Vice Chancellor of Arunachal Pradesh State University, among other dignitaries.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted the rich heritage of folk medicine, emphasizing its role in healing communities for thousands of years. Under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership, a concerted effort has been made to revitalize traditional medicine, including folk medicine, to enhance the healthcare system. The government’s investment in NEIAFMR will catalyze research and development in Ayurveda and folk medicine. Additionally, a new center for Sowa Rigpa will be established in Arunachal Pradesh.
NEIAFMR, committed to scientifically documenting, researching, and validating Northeast’s folk medicine, will undergo capacity expansion. This includes the construction of an academic building, hostels for boys and girls, staff quarters, and the director’s bungalow. The new infrastructure aims to support the opening of an Ayurveda college offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed satisfaction that NEIAFMR is harnessing the richness of folk medicine in the Northeast. The capacity expansion, under Prime Minister Modi’s guidance, presents an opportunity to document age-old folk medicine scientifically for broader applications in patient care. The region’s diverse medicinal plants offer significant commercial potential for pharmaceutical, Ayurvedic, and aromatic sectors, unlocking commercial avenues for the state and the Northeast.
Union Minister Sonowal reiterated the government’s commitment to reviving traditional forms of medicine, such as Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy, Sowa Rigpa, and Naturopathy. NEIAFMR, dedicated to reviving folk medicine, will be developed as the national hub for this purpose, fostering a wider range of patient care solutions. The institute plays a pivotal role in scientifically proving and validating the efficacy of traditional medicine, contributing to the enrichment of human lives.
The North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Folk Medicine (NEIAFMR), Pasighat, serves as the apex Research Centre for Local Health Traditions (LHTs) and Ethno Medicinal Practices (EMPs). The government aims to further strengthen NEIAFMR with additional infrastructure, including a Regional Raw Drug Repository (RRDR) & Museum, Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility (SAIF), State of Art Panchakarma Treatment & Research Center, and a Paramedical Teaching Center in the near future.
