Shimla or D’sala? Ayurvedic body plea highlights accessibility woes

The Himachal Pradesh Ayurvedic Manufacturers’ Association (HPAMA) has urged the state government to relocate the AYUSH Directorate office from Shimla to Dharamsala, citing accessibility and administrative hurdles faced by entrepreneurs in the lower hill districts.

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In a letter submitted to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday, HPAMA general secretary Upender Gupta highlighted the challenges entrepreneurs encounter while dealing with the Shimla-based AYUSH Directorate. He pointed out that Shimla, being overcrowded and lacking adequate parking infrastructure, makes it inconvenient for those who run Ayurvedic pharmacies in districts like Kangra, Chamba and Hamirpur.

Gupta stated that many potential entrepreneurs from these regions are discouraged from setting up Ayurvedic medicine units due to the bureaucratic difficulties associated with visiting Shimla. “While Baddi has emerged as a hub for pharmacy establishments, entrepreneurs still struggle to get their official work processed at the AYUSH Directorate in Shimla,” he added.

Referring to a 2011 Himachal Pradesh High Court order, Gupta said although a Deputy Directorate of AYUSH was created in Dharamsala, the officer posted there was never granted licensing powers. “Renewals and new licenses still require approval from the director in Shimla, leading to long delays and unnecessary embarrassment for entrepreneurs,” he alleged.

The association has called for licensing powers to be delegated to local officials, on the lines of the allopathic system in Baddi and Dharamsala, to streamline the process and encourage new ventures in the lower hill regions. HPAMA further argued that Dharamsala is not only geographically more accessible for many districts but also strategically suited due to the abundance of medicinal plants in Kangra and Chamba.

The association’s appeal underscores a growing demand for decentralisation and regional empowerment to promote Ayurvedic entrepreneurship in the state.