Indian Express
26 October 2010
Mohali, India

Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Shivraj V Patil has stressed the need to adopt holistic approach to strengthen and popularise Ayurveda.

He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the seminar on Bhartiya Swasthya Chintan organised by Punjab Department of Ayurveda here today.

Health and Family Welfare Ministers Laxmi Kanta Chawla (Punjab); Rajiv Bindal (Himachal Pardesh); Uttarakhand Minister of State; Satish Chandra, Principal Secretary, Health, Punjab; Dr Ashok Kale, National Convener of Bhartiya Swasthya Chintan; Raji P Srivastava, MD, Punjab Health Systems Corporation; CS Bhalla, Commissioner AYUSH; Dr JP Singh, Director, Health; Dr Ashok Nayyar, Director, Family Welfare; and Dr Rakesh Sharma, Director, Ayurveda, Punjab, were prominent among those present.

The governor said, "We should not ignore and forget our old system of medicines. Ayurveda has its own importance and significance which is presently gaining ground globally and people in other countries are greatly attracted to the alternate methods of treatment for different ailments for which allopathic treatment has not made any remarkable dent."

Patil said, "Allopathy is popular in urban areas while Ayurveda still persist in the rural areas but Ayurveda rules and dominates in hilly areas." He said in the health policy of 1980s, three main aspects curative, preventive and promotive aspects were included and Ayurveda was effective in all the aspects but shown good results in promotive aspects. "We should not create differences in Allopathic and Ayurvedic systems but we have to improve and develop both the systems at par and take effective steps for the promotion of Ayurveda," he underlined.

Speaking on the occasion, Chawla said, "There is a need to further promote and tap the natural curative powers of various trees, herbs and fruits for treating various ailments besides making use of their leaves and bark to help people stay healthy and free from ailments."

She said the ancient scriptures mentioned of the curative qualities of various trees in great detail and the country must take full advantage of its traditional knowledge bank. She claimed that Punjab has adopted multi–pronged approach to promote Ayurveda.

Rajiv Bindal said a similar seminar earlier held in Shimla was very fruitful. He spoke about various facilities being extended by Himachal under AYUSH programme.

At the end of the brainstorming session, in which above 250 representatives from 8 states participated, a consensus was reached that infrastructure be developed and strengthened by the state governments; spiritualism be included for general well–being and holistic approach be adopted, in which different systems of medicine are brought under one roof.