Guwahati: Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said two Ayush (ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy) hospitals will be set up in the state.
Sarma said Rs 7.5 crore each has been earmarked for setting up the two hospitals, one of which will be set up at Dudhnoi in Goalpara district and the other in Majuli district.
"The foundation stone of the hospital at Dudhnoi will be laid on December 23 and of the one in Majuli in January by chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal," Sarma said while launching a scheme here to set up a yoga centre each in 100 development blocks of the state.
These yoga centres will be set up under Assam Yoga Project Phase-I in a bid to popularise yoga at the grassroots. "Yoga centres will be set up in all in the remaining 128 development blocks in the state in a phased manner. We also have plans to upgrade these centres to yoga clinics," Sarma said.
The state government will run these yoga centres with the help of 14 NGOs, including Patanjali Yog Peeth and Art of Living. There will be two yoga mitras (instructors) in each yoga centre. Each of them will be paid Rs 10,000 per month. Apart from holding yoga sessions from 6am to 8am and from 6pm to 7pm every day, symposiums, discussions and awareness programmes on yoga will also be held at these centres.
"Yoga is more than a physical exercise. The art of practicing yoga helps in controlling an individual's mind, body and soul," Sarma said.
"These centres will contribute towards enhancing physical, mental and emotional well-being of the people," said principal secretary, health, Samir Kumar Sinha.
Sarma said the government is also considering setting up of an All India Institute of Ayurveda in the state.