Ayush Ministry fails to kick start major projects, returns funds

NEW DELHI: Some major projects of the Ministry of Ayush have failed to take off since its inception due to "non-availability of land" and surrendered more than 50 per cent of its funds.

Envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote the traditional medicine and practices, a separate Ministry of Ayush was formed in November 2014 by elevating the department of Ayush.

Ambitious projects including - All India Institute of Yoga, All India Institute of Homoeopathy, Homoeopathic Medicines Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, Pharmacovigilance Initiative for ASU Drugs and National Institute of Medicinal Plants are stuck due to paucity of land, the sources said.

The government has also deferred setting up of All India Institute of Yoga as it could not identify land for the project, they said.

Meanwhile, the land for All India Institute for Homeopathy has been identified and the action is underway to take its possession.

In 2014-15, the ministry was allocated a budget of Rs 1,069 crore, of which 573.21 crore (53 per cent) was surrendered due to non-approval of projects, the sources said.

An amount of Rs 25 crore was alloted from the budget for setting All India Institute of Unani Medicine.

However, the entire funds had to be returned due to non-approval of the project, according to a parliamentary report on funds grant.

A senior ministry official said that the location for establishment of proposed National Institute of Medicinal Plants is being finalized by the ministry.