Dr Vijay Fulara, Dehradun : Chief Minister Major General (Retd.) Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri laid the foundation stone of Uttarakhand Ayurveda University at Harrawala here, on Thursday. On the occasion, terming Ayurveda as repository of knowledge, he said that there is an impending need to carry out comprehensive and wide–ranging researches in the field of Ayurveda.
Chief Minister Shri Khanduri said that Nature has bestowed ample natural resources on Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand in the form of precious herbs. Serious efforts would have to be launched for large–scale utilization in the interest of the society. Mentioning the example of keera–jari (Yarsa Gumbu), the Chief Minister said that precious herbs such as these are illegally harvested and smuggled out of the State. While on one hand this tendency prevents its judicious utilization, there is revenue loss caused to the Government, on the other. Quoting from the scriptures such as the Puranas, Chief Minister Shri Khanduri said that knowledge and science were at their peak in ancient India. Most of these Puranic concepts have come to be realized through actual scientific applications.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister expressed the hope that high quality research work would be taken up in Uttarakhand Ayurveda University. He said that it is through such academic excellence that the University would earn name and fame in the country and abroad. He directed the officials concerned to design and construct the new building of Uttarakhand Ayurveda University in a manner so that it provides a glimpse of Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand.
Chief Minister Shri Khanduri said that it is only by connecting to one’s roots that service can truly be given for the sake of the country and the society. He said that the State Government is committed and dedicated to make Uttarakhand an ideal state in accordance with the Dev Bhoomi’s culture and traditions. He said that significant steps have been taken for eradication of corruption and promotion of good governance and public service through various legislative actions such as the Lokayukta Act, Right to Public Service, and transparent Transfer Act. The State Government has taken several important decisions in the interest of the people and work on these decisions is being expedited.
Addressing the public function, Minister for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Trivendra Singh Rawat said that the State Government has undertaken a number of tasks in public interest by displaying exemplary will power. He said that Uttarakhand is rich in biodiversity and the Government has taken several steps to develop Uttarakhand as ‘Herbal State’. He apprised that a revolving fund of Rs. 2 crores has been set up to purchase the herbal produce directly from the growers. The Government has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Patanjali Institute. He expressed the hope that Uttarakhand Ayurveda University would impart a new image and identity to the State.
On the occasion, the Vice Chancellor of Ayurveda University Prof. Satyendra Prasad Mishra said that the University would encourage scholars to take up doctoral and post–doctoral researches in subjects such as biochemistry, biotechnology, phyto–chemistry, taxonomy, and bio–physics, among others, in conjunction with the subject of Ayurveda. The University would be a global centre of excellence in the art and science of naturopathy medicine including panch–karma, kshar–sutra, rasayan, marm, and ahar–vihar pathya–apathya, among others.
Those who were present on the occasion include a number of public representatives, Director Ayush Puja Bharadwaj, Jitendra Negi, and Y.P. Dhyani, among others.