The controversy over the shifting of AIIMS from Jammu has not died yet, now another institution is to be shifted from its allocated place. The institution in question is National Institute of Medicinal Plants allocated to Bhadarwah is being shifted to some other part of the State. The proposed institute is to be set up by the Department of AYUSH, Government of India at the cost of Rs 100 crore. The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry during the previous Congress regime had sanctioned the institute in January 2014 for Bhadarwah keeping in view of its close proximity to rich wealth of medicinal and herbal wealth as well as pristine scenic beauty. The availability of land was confirmed by the State Government in March 2014 to the Department of AYUSH, Govt of India. Upon becoming functional this institute can be an asset for Jammu and Kashmir, especially for the areas which are hotbeds of herbal wealth in the State, as far as generation of employment and income is concerned. Two State-level Cancer Institute (SCI) worth Rs 120 cr each were sanctioned for Jammu and Srinagar, viz., Govt Medical College Jammu and Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Srinagar. Similarly, one Ayurveda College for Jammu and one Unani College for Srinagar were sanctioned. Five medical colleges were sanctioned for Anantnag; Kathua, Baramulla, Rajouri and Doda; three tertiary cancer care centres (TCCCs) were approved for Kupwara, Udhampur and Kishtwar. Similarly 25 Nursing Schools for Kathua, Budgam, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Pulwama, Reasi, Udhampur, Samba, Shopian, Leh, Doda, Rajouri, Bandipora, Kargil, Kishtwar, Ramban, Bhaderwah, Billawar, Anantnag, Thanamandi, Surankote, Thathri, Khan Sahib, Awantipora and Handwara were sanctioned for the peripheral and remote areas of the State to facilitate creation of more nurses. About 700 new Sub-centres were sanctioned for the remote and uncovered areas of the State. Rashtriya Bal Swasthaya Karayakaram (RBSK) was rolled out in the entire State as an exceptional case, unlike other States where a few Districts were taken up in the beginning. Integrated AYUSH Hospital is also coming up at Harwan Srinagar. With such vast medical set up coming up in the state especially for the AYUSH scheme the indigenous medicine will get a new lease of life.
