Ministers assure support to make ayurveda college national institution

NAGPUR: As the Government Ayurveda College and Hospital in the city began the celebrations of its golden jubilee year, Union minister Nitin Gadkari and guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule agreed to support the college’s bid to get its status elevated to that of a national institution. The ministers said they would personally follow the matter through with the central and the state governments.
The inauguration of the year-long activities for the celebration was done on Saturday by Bawankule in the presence of Gadkari and state’s director of ayurveda Kuldeep Raj Kohli. Several other political leaders from the city including MLAs Milind Mane, Sudhakar Kolhe, Prakash Gajbhiye, Krupal Tumane and Nago Ganar were also present.
Though he could not attend the event, medical education minister Vinod Tawde sent a message saying he would ensure more research in ayurveda colleges. “New courses, more staff and infrastructural upgrading can sure help the college,” said Bawankule while asking the authorities to make a reasonable proposal towards this end.
“Ayurveda has gained much prominence across the globe today. It has also emerged as a great business opportunity with even big corporations wanting to sell ayurvedic products. Kerala has become a tourist attraction because of the ayurvedic retreats and resorts. Even Vidarbha can do this with good institutions present in the region,” said Gadkari. He added since the region had a huge forest cover, it could also be utilized in this direction.
The minister was not too happy with the state of affairs in government hospitals in the region. “The extent of internal politics in organizations like Government Medical College and Hospital and Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital is appalling. These institutions are lagging much behind the private ones. This is mostly because the personnel here do not have good work ethics. This, in turn, affects the quality of care offered by these hospitals which is a sad outcome of the callousness people associate with government employees,” said Gadkari. He told the ayurveda teachers present that they must focus on improving the quality of care and services provided in their institutions before making demands like elevation in the status of their institution and funds for infrastructure development.
Dean of the college Dr Ganesh Mukkawar said the quality of education and patient care would be improved and the necessary proposals would be sent across to the relevant government departments and the ministers present.