South Asia Times News Bulletin

With an aim to ensure that ayurveda is accessible to the rural community, especially women, efforts are being made to make the discipline a part of primary health centres and create awareness about it.
A programme has been conceptualised to create awareness, clear myths and generate suggestions for policy formulations for incorporating ayurveda in National Rural Healthcare systems for women.

"We propose to understand the science and logic behind traditional lifestyles and know the different options available for affordable and alternative means of good health for our rural populace," an NGO participating in a seminar on ayurveda in New Delhi said.

A good example are the traditional 'dais' or midwives who have undoubtedly played a very significant role in human resource development but little or not effort has been made to upgrade their skills to meet new challenges, it said.

Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath said rural women not being so well-educated are dependent on local health workers, governments hospitals and sometimes on the information that trickles down to them from urban lifestyles.

The seminar also recognised the need to clear some myths amongst both urban and rural women about some practices related to women-specific lifestyles.