Minister of Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has informed that NEIAFMR has been documenting and validating traditional healing practices scientifically for recognition and integration into the health care services. In addition, it is certifying traditional healers in their respective domain and creating a pool of certified traditional healers. The traditional healers are involved in the recently introduced AYUSH Health and Wellness Centre.
The Government had established North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine (NEIFM) for systematic research, documentation and validation of traditional folk medicine and health practices in 2012. The Ministry changed the name and mandate of the Institute as North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR) in July, 2021.
Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of AYUSH has been documenting and validating local health traditions prevalent among individuals and communities through the Tribal Health Care Research Program (THCRP) in 14 states through its 14 institutes, and Medico-Ethno Botanical Survey (MEBS) in eight states through 08 institutes and by Reactive approach, taking leads voluntarily provided by individuals.
The Government is not aware about the concept like creation of ‘Traditional Hut’. However, the NEIAFMR has initiated to aggregate the healers nationwide. The Conclave among the healers for capacity and awareness building are organized from time to time.