Chennai: In an attempt to give fillip to Indian medicine, the stÂate government has allocÂated Rs 12 crore towards setting up research and deÂvelopment centres in colÂleÂges teaching Indian meÂdicine.
According to a government release, chief minister J. Jayalalithaa has allÂoÂcated the amount towÂards creation of research and development centres with a view to promote stÂuÂdents and teachers’ participation in the initiative.
The effort would help popularise Indian mediciÂne across the world with the publication of related articles in the future, the release added.
Jayalalithaa also sanctioned Rs 15 crore for inÂfÂrastructure developmÂent of government colleÂges teaching Indian meÂdÂicine. The Government Siddha Medical College and Hospital in PalayÂamÂkottai will get Rs 1 crore, the Siddha Medical CollÂege in Chennai will receÂive Rs 3.52 crore, the GoveÂrnment Homeopathy MeÂdiÂcal College at ThiruÂmaÂngalam in Madurai — Rs 3 crore, Yoga and NaturÂopathy Medical College in Chennai — Rs 4.16 crore, Government Unani Medical College in ChenÂnai — Rs 2.32 crore and GoÂveÂrnment Ayruveda MedÂical College in Kottar in Kanniyakumari district Rs 1 crore.
Executive committee meÂmber of Central CoÂuncil of Indian Medicine Dr B. Muthukumar said there was a need to develop research and development facilities and allocation of huge sum towards this would benefit more number of students.
“This year, almost double the number of applications have been received by Indian medicine institutions compared to last year and this shows that students show enormous interest in pursuing IndiÂan medicine,” he said.
