Bengaluru: Shocked by the suicide of three girl students studying at a Naturopathy institution at Villupuram in Tamil Nadu last Saturday, the Union Ministry of AYUSH has decided to regulate Yoga and Naturopathy Institutions which have sprung up all across the country.
The three students allegedly committed suicide due to harassment by the college management for exorbitant fees. The AYUSH ministry was created by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a view to look into Yogic and Naturopathy in the country. But there is no regulatory body to control institutions providing education in these streams at present. The Centre is seriously considering establishing a regulatory body for assessment and standardization of courses in Yoga and Naturopathy and for registration of practitioners. Dr. H.R. Nagendra, Chancellor, S.Vysya Yoga University, Bengaluru had submitted a detailed report to the Ministry of Ayush on October 12 last year in this regard. In the 40-page report, the Task Force has recommended setting up of a National Board for Promotion and Development of Yoga and Naturopathy under the chairmanship of the Secretary, AYUSH department.
“There is no regulatory body for Yoga and Naturopathy courses. So Yoga and Naturopathy institutions have mushroomed in the recent past with no basic infrastructure or proper faculty”, said a Chief Medical officer in a reputed Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences institution in Dakshina Kannada, who is a member of the Ayush Task Force. “The need for a regulatory body assumes importance after the suicide of the three students of SVS Yoga Medical College near Villupuram in Tamil Nadu, the officer added.
Will implement recommendations: Naik
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Union Minister for AYUSH, Shripad Y. Naik said the Centre will implement the recommendations of the Task Force.
“We will definitely implement the key recommendations including one on setting up of the National Board for Promotion and Development of Yoga and Naturopathy,” Mr Naik said. “The Centre is aware of the suicide of the three Naturopathy students and plans to streamline Naturopathy institutions after setting up the National Board,” he added.
