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Panel raps govt for lesser funds to Ayush Ministry

New Delhi: It seems the tall claims of the government to promote ancient methods of treatment has fallen flat as a Parliamentary panel on Friday came down hard on the government which is led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inadequate allocation of funds to Ayush Ministry in comparison to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

According to the latest report of the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health & Family Welfare, the panel has raped the government for allocating just Rs 1,626.37 crore to Ayush Ministry instead of the projected requirement of Rs 2,797.96 crore leaving a shortfall of Rs 1,171.59 crore.

Suggesting the government to increase the budgetary allocation of the ministry, the committee said, "The panel is of the view that there needs to be a quantum jump in the budgetary allocation of Ayush Ministry to achieve its objectives in positioning Ayush systems as a preferred system of living and practice for attaining a healthy India." However, in the view of the shortfall of funds for 2018-19, the panel has asked the ministry to judiciously utilise the allocated funds and deploy the available resources in an efficient manner.

Anguished over meagre allocation given to Ayush Ministry, the committee said, "In the year 2013-14, the allocation for the Ayush Ministry was just 3 per cent to 4 per cent of the union health budget and it was 3.08 per cent of the health budget for the year 2018-19."

"Since the Ayush Ministry was granted the status of ministry on November 9, 2014 and in the given circumstances when it's being given a miniscule fund in comparison to Health Ministry, the Ayush Ministry would not be able to realise its objectives and tap the full potential of the alternative medicines," the panel said in its report.

The Committee also asked Ministry to chalk out a solid roadmap for optimal utilisation of the budgeted funds.

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