JAMMU, OCTOBER 12 (KNS): Secretary, Health and Medical Education (H&ME), Bhupinder Kumar today chaired the 13th Executive Committee Meeting (ECM) of National Ayush Mission (NAM), J&K at Civil Secretariat here.

The meeting was attended by Mission Director NHM, Ayushi Sudan; Director Ayush J&K, Dr. Mohan Singh; State Drug Controller Lotika Khajuria; Director Finance H&ME, Zahoor Ahmad Wani and other senior officers of the department.

During the meeting, the Secretary emphasized upon the officers to involve private players who are stake holders in tourism sector to adopt Ayush specialized therapies in their hotels and promote the benefits of Yoga and other specialized Ayush therapies to the tourists. He asked them to organise awareness camps regarding the benefits of Ayush medicines across Jammu and Kashmir to attract more people towards it.

During the meeting, Director Ayush J&K gave a detailed presentation and informed the Secretary that State Annual Action Plan (SAAP) 2022-23 under National Ayush Mission amounting to Rs. 72.00 Crore has been approved by the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India for its execution by the Executive Committee of State Ayush Society. Director Ayush further informed that Directorate of Ayush has already initiated process of establishing specialized Ayush Wellness Centres at famous tourist places like Patnitop, Katra ,Jammu Tawi Golf Club, Pahalgam, Gulmarg & Sonmarg for promoting herbal tourism in the UT of J&K.

During the meeting all the components and activities of National Ayush Mission were discussed in detail by the Executive Committee and accordingly directions were issued for ensuring timely implementation of approved Action Plan.

The issues regarding utilization of Yoga instructors, retention of user charges under Hospital Development Fund, operationalisation of 50 bedded integrated Ayush Hospital at Kishtwar and Harwan Kashmir among others were also discussed during the meeting.(KNS)