With the 11th five year plan coming to an end, the Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India (AMMOI) hopes that the government will provide better allocation of funds to the Department of Ayush in the 12th five year plan starting from 2012 to 2017. AMMOI emphasised that the government needs to give more encouragement to the industry by way of funds if it wants to see it at par with the Chinese counterparts.
In the 11th five year plan, out of a total allotment of Rs.35 lakh crore made for all the sectors, Rs.130, 000 crore was given to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare which comprises of Department of Health & Family Welfare, Department of Ayush, Department of Health Research and Department of AIDS Control. And the Department got access to only Rs.4000 crore.
According to Dr Ramanathan Devaraj Iyer, president of AMMOI, “It is very unfortunate that the government allotted only this much for the development of this vast sector. As of now, with this kind of money we would not be able to stand a chance with the Chinese. We need better encouragement from the government for this niche and small industry.”
He pointed out that the association is hopeful that in the 12th five year plan the government would increase the allotment for the Ayush Department.
Demanding more investments from the government in this sector, AMMOI wants the government to allot Rs.50,000 crore to Ayush from what is being given to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the new five year plan.
“Last time we only got 0.6 per cent of the total allotment which would not be acceptable this time. We need funds so that we can concentrate on research and development activities in Ayush. There is also a need to organise this sector in a more planned manner apart from focusing on the medicinal plants development. How are we supposed to do all this with only this kind of interest from the government,” Dr Ramanathan pointed out.
He said that apart from increasing the allotment for Ayush, the government should also take active steps to increase more collaboration with China that will help in improving the trade relation between the countries.