Shillong, June 28: A Herbal Garden and Ayush Model Village under Ayush Gram (National Ayush Mission) was inaugurated at Madan ïngsyiem, Mylliem by Urban Affairs Minister, Hamletson Dohling.

The medicinal plants are being grown in the garden of Mary Jones Kharbangar, and Mylliem area is rich in various vegetables that can be used for medicinal purposes.

The programme was organised by the office of the District Medical and Health Officer, East Khasi Hills.

The aim of the National Ayush Mission, which was launched by the Central Government in 2014, is to implement the Ayush way of life in the model village and provide easy access to Ayush services through increased number of healthcare facilities and better availability of medicines and trained manpower.

In his speech on the occasion, Dohling said that Meghalaya is endowed with a wide variety of plants with medicinal values and in this day and age where more and more people are turning to alternative medicines, like ayurvedic medicines for treatment.

He said that Ayush scheme being launched in the State is a golden opportunity for the people and stressed the need to preserve, protect, promote and document the knowledge of indigenous medicinal plants.

Dohling also reiterated the need to set up a Regional Research Institute in the State and informed the gathering that soon a Traditional Health Centre will also be set up in Mylliem, focussing on indigenous herbal medicines to heal various ailments.

Citing the example of Kerala where Ayurveda treatment has become a huge industry, Dohling said that with hard work and perseverance, traditional healing will prove to be a highly remunerative industry for the State as well.

Earlier, Ayush physicians also shared their experiences and created awareness on various diseases like TB, Malaria, Diarrhoea and the values of medicinal plants.