"Karunyam", a national healthcare programme initiated by Kerala based Ayurveda healthcare major Santhigiri Ashram in June 2006, has completed its first phase and is moving ahead with the second phase. Out of the Rs 36 crore earmarked for the project Rs 2 crore has been spent for various activities till date.

As a part of the second phase, a proposal has been sent to WHO and many other NGO's stating the necessity for funds to implement the project in a full-fledged manner and for setting up medical institutions and colleges throughout the country. The Ashram will be collaborating with Chief Ministers of all the states to get land on lease for setting up the health care facilities throughout India.

In the first phase, medicines for various illnesses like rheumatism and psoriasis were given to around two lakh people and in the second stage, initial medication was been given to around 50,000 people. Santhigiri has adopted Chandroor a village in Alleppey, and it was declared as a 'Siddha Gramam' by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss. In the month of December medical camps will be conducted in Alleppey.

Speaking about carrying out the projects outside India, Guru rathna Swami, director of Shantigiri Ashram said that steps were being taken to implement such projects in Europe and Middle East.

"This project is aimed at facilitating, propagating and popularising indigenous healthcare systems by spreading awareness, familiarizing preventive methods and to make available the medicine and treatment among rural population. We need funds now, as we want to support the poor students willing to study the ISM's. It is only by encouraging more people to take up the alternate systems of medicine can we propagate Ayurveda and other Indian treatment systems," he said.

As Pharmabiz had earlier reported, the duration of the project is 15 years and is to cover 7.5 crore patients across the country.