Shripad Naik takes charge as Minister for Yoga and Traditional Medicine

Shripad Naik, who has taken charge as Minister for Yoga and Traditional Medicine, has said that he will be making efforts to give sufficient prominence to alternative therapies such as Yoga and Ayurveda.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a mission to raise awareness about home-grown health treatments, encouraging people to take up Yoga and calling for an International Yoga Day. "This is our system and it has not received enough prominence. We will take it to the masses," said Naik.

The formation of the ministry comes days after the government unveiled plans to set up a regulator for traditional drugs. Naik said his objective was to make India disease-free.

"This is a great thing that a separate ministry has been made for traditional Ayurveda medicine and I think health is the primary thing and I consider it as a work of god. I feel honoured that this responsibility has been given to me. Our goal is to make this country free from diseases. We would take forward the traditional ayurveda medicine," said Naik.

The government allocated Rs 10.69 billion to develop and promote traditional health systems in the 2014-15 financial year.