The All Garo Hills Joint Action Committee (AGHJAC) met Union Minister of Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal at his office in New Delhi on August 20, seeking the set up of an Ayush Medical College in Garo Hills.
The delegation comprised various organisations, including the GSU, GSMC, FAF and social activists from the region. They were accompanied by MP of Shillong, Vincent Pala.
Pala is also a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, Consultative Committee on Finance and Committee on SC and ST.
The meeting, as per the delegation, lasted for more than an hour where development of North East and particularly of Garo Hills was taken up.
“Ayurveda is considered the mother of all healing and originated in India. It is also recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO). We have seen even in Garo Hills that ‘Achik Sam’ or local medicines have been known to cure many diseases,” said Rogerbenny Sangma, advisor to the delegation.
The delegation added that the Union cabinet in its meeting held on March 27, 2008 had approved the idea of setting up the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy (NEIAH) at Mawdiangdiang , Shillong and which was formally inaugurated by the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India on December 22, 2016.
Though one of the Ayush facility has already been set up in Shillong, genuine citizens of entire Garo Hills still depend mostly on natural healing, curing and treatment. They felt the need of setting up of one central Ayush Medical College in Tura as well.
“Garo Hills is rich in resources and herbs which are being used since generations and these can be extracted for studies easily due to availability. We prefer natural and traditional medicines (Ayurveda),” said Balkarin, convenor of AGHJAC on reasons for the demand.
They added that the college would open up avenues for young under graduate, post graduate, doctoral, post-doctoral, researchers to the idea of proper usages of natural plants and herbs in treating all types of ailments. It would also produce quality patient care and allow for ayurvedic research along with medical care.
“If the college is approved, it would also help in creating jobs, promote Ayurveda and propagate science. We demand the set up of the college though the AYUSH minister like it was done at Mawdiangdiang.
The delegation added that the minister responded positively and would pay a visit to the region soon on the matter.
Further the delegation also met the Union Minister of State (Education), Dr. Rajkumar R. Singh on the need to set up a central university in Garo Hills.
“Our Central and State governments have abdicated their constitutional responsibility with respect to school, college and professional education of equitable quality for all its citizens. Though there are numerous recognized as well as unrecognised schools and colleges within the districts but in the entire Garo Hills districts, there is only one recognised university namely North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Tura Campus with limited subjects and seats,” added Jigar Sangma, FAF representative.
They added that due to low seat capacity at NEHU, many young aspirants have to pursue their dreams in other states or places. The problem is that most of the aspirants cannot afford studies in other states or even in places like Shillong (which is 323 kms away) and have to forgo success.
“Only one campus is catering to more than 11 lakh people. This is making things extremely hard for people of our region,” they added.
The delegation sought another university in the region akin to the University of Ladakh or University of Bodoland University in Assam.
