The Centre will soon set up yoga centres in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) across the country, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, said here on Saturday. He also said the decision was taken following “encouraging results” of a survey conducted at AIIMS, New Delhi, on the effect of yoga on patients after surgery.
“A year-long survey regarding the effect of yoga on the recovery of patients after surgery was conducted at AIIMS, New Delhi, on 4,100 patients. Seeing the positive outcome — patients recovering quickly — we have decided to introduce yoga in AIIMS across the country,” said Mr. Choubey. He was speaking at a conference in the city held by the Merchant’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He said the proposal was “under process” and would soon be executed.
As for the recent outbreak of Nipah virus in Kerala, the Minister said it had not turned into an epidemic and there were no fresh cases of Nipah. So far, 17 people have died of Nipah in Kerala.
“Nipah has not turned into an epidemic. The virus has been contained and no fresh cases have been reported,” he said. The Minister also said there was “no need to run away” from Kerala.
The Centre would set up 20 new medical colleges in the country, out of which five would be in West Bengal. “We have released ₹50 crore for one medical college in Bengal and requested the State government to prepare detailed project reports for the four other proposed medical colleges,” said Mr. Choubey.
Murder of democracy
Without naming the party, Mr. Choubey crticised the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the violence in the recent rural polls. The Minister alleged that “democracy is being murdered in Bengal. During the panchayat elections, several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers were killed and two more were killed recently in Purulia.”