In order to promote Ayurveda studies in the state as per the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Thursday requested Union Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to give one National Institute of Ayurveda to the Punjab state.
“I am a doctor of allopathy but I have been Aurved practitioner for last 40 years and we want to promote Ayurved in our state. As you have started in Haryana, also give us one National Institute of Ayurveda and I promise to convert it into the Ayurvedic Teachers’ Training Institute,” he said, while requesting the Union Ayush Minister.
Dr Balbir Singh was addressing the on the first day of the Conference on ‘Ayurveda for One Health’ as part of 8th Ayurveda Day celebration, Ayurveda Parva and Regional Review Meeting of 8 states/UTs under National Ayush Mission, which was inaugurated by the Union Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at Indradhanush Auditorium at Panchkula in Haryana.
Punjab Health Minister was Guest of Honour on the occasion.While addressing the gathering, he also talked about the current scenario of increasing air and water pollution in the country, which is a concerning issue and needs attention.
“I came here with a thought that Health Ministers of eight states will be present here and we could have healthy discussions on this serious topic,” he said, while requesting the Union Ayush Minister to convene a meeting of Health Ministers of all the states on environmental issues.
Citing that people are discussing about pollution in Delhi only, Dr Balbir Singh said that the fact is that the pollution is not only limited to Delhi now but the entire country has become gas chamber. He said that this is not a party issue nor this is not about the next elections, but this is about the next generation.
“Clean air and clean water is our fundamental right and you (students) should ask from us,” he asked to the students attending the conference, while terming himself and all the elected people as their servants, not VIPs.
Dr Balbir Singh said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has given him the responsibility of the health of 3 crore people of Punjab. “To keep our people hale and healthy, our CM has started CM di Yogshala, which has already extended to 1000 classes and at Aam Aadmi Clinics, we have a meditation centre, gym, walking track and parks to encourage people for exercise, which is the only way to keep diseases away,” he said.