The Ministry of Minority Affairs has provided support to the Central Council of Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) and the National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM) Bengaluru, under the Ministry of Ayush, for the promotion and upgradation of Unani Medicine facilities in India. The Ministry of Minority Affairs has approved a grant of Rs. 45.34 Crores under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), a centrally sponsored scheme.
The grant will be utilized for the upgradation of Unani Medicine facilities in Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow, Silchar, and Bengaluru. The CCRUM has been sanctioned a total amount of Rs. 35.52 crores, while the NIUM will receive Rs. 9.81 crores. The Ministry of Ayush acknowledges the leadership of Union Minister MoMA Smt. Smriti Irani for her guidance in granting funds for the development and upgradation of Unani medicine facilities.
The approved grant will be used to establish various facilities in Unani Medicine. These include a center for fundamental research in Unani Medicine at the National Research Institute of Unani Medicine for Skin Disorders in Hyderabad, a preclinical laboratory facility at the Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine in Chennai, a center of Ilaj bit Tadbeer (regimenal therapy) for musculoskeletal disorders at the Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine in Lucknow, and a center of Ilaj bit Tadbeer for skin and lifestyle disorders at the Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine in Silchar.
Additionally, NIUM Bengaluru will receive funds for establishing a Vishram Girah for patients’ attendants and a skill center for model Unani cosmetic care, a small-scale Unani pharmacy, and Unani crude drug storage.
The proposals were considered by the Empowered Committee of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, and the first installment of 25% of the sanctioned cost has already been released to the CCRUM. The grants for the CCRUM project in Hyderabad and the projects of NIUM Bengaluru will be released once their Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are approved and other technicalities are finalized.
The Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) is an area development program that aims to create community infrastructure and provide basic amenities in identified areas.