Guwahati NIPER to have world class campus

NE can become another Ayurveda cradle: Anth Kumar

'At least 100 hospitals in Assam will soon have generic centres that will help poor people buy medicines costing 25-30 per cent less compared to allopathic medicines'

BY Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, May 30: Laying the foundation stone for tiol Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) here today, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anth Kumar promised more world-class institutes in Assam.

Highlighting the need for timely completion of projects, Kumar informed that construction work of the permanent campus of NIPER will commence today itself.

 “There are seven NIPERs across the country, but barring Mohali, none have its own campus. Now, Guwahati will have a world-class campus for NIPER,” Kumar said.

The minister pointed out that the land was allotted by the State government in 2009 itself but work could not be started.

He also informed that the Prime Minister has on his own assured of iugurating the permanent campus when it is ready.

Referring to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s lament of non-setting up of a tiol Institute for Fashion Technology and Petroleum Research and Study Institute in Assam, the Union minister said he will take up the matter with the concerned ministries once he returns to New Delhi.

Kumar also highlighted the State’s potential in emerging as a ‘second cradle’ for Ayurveda after Kerala, endowed as it is with a wealth of flora and fau and rich biodiversity.

“There is a need for holistic approach for curing lifestyle diseases of present times. Assam and the entire Northeast can be another cradle of Ayurveda,” he said.

 The minister also promised opening all-expenses-borne generic medicine centers at hospitals across 27 districts of Assam and invited the State Health minister and Chief Secretary to New Delhi next month to sign a MoU in this regard with the Central ministry.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, in his speech, stressed on the importance of research in the medical field and also urged for promotion of local medicines.

Highlighting the need for more institutes in the State for avenues to further higher education, he urged the government to upgrade the current college for physical education into a university.

Gogoi also mentioned the State government’s own initiatives in this sector, including setting up of a cooperative university and women’s university.

The NIPER is being set up on 89 acres of land at Silapahar, on the outskirts of Guwahati, at a cost of Rs 550 crore.

NIPER-Guwahati, under the mentorship of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), was iugurated on September 2008 by then Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Ram Vilas Paswan.