Indian Express
13 April 2010
By Surbhi Khyati
Lucknow, India

The aim is to provide alternative medicine which is effective and cheaper in areas that have a higher density of Dalit population. This is the first such initiative since 1997 – when 75 homeopathic dispensaries were opened in the scheduled caste dominated areas
THE state government is ready to set up 59 new homeopathic dispensaries in Dalitdominated areas. The process of identifying the sites has begun.

The dispensaries will be set up under the special component plan in 2010–11.

The aim is to provide alternative medicine which is effective and cheaper in areas that have a higher density of Dalit population.

This is the first such initiative since 1997 – when 75 homeopathic dispensaries were opened in the scheduled caste dominated areas.

Between March 21 and September 20, 1997, Mayawati had come to power a second time in the state.

“The proposal for the new dispensaries was sent by the Department of Homeopathy this year and it was approved by the Planning and financial department of the government,” said Dr BN Singh, Director, Homeopathy.

The districts have been asked to come up with detailed plans for the dispensaries, which will be sent to the department for approval before funds are sanctioned.

“Once the proposals from districts come in, the final number of dispensaries can change as per requirements,” said an official.

According to officials in the Department of homeopathy, a similar proposal was sent in 2007–08 but it was not approved by the government.

In the 2010–11 budget, around Rs 2.38 crore has been specifically allotted for the dispensaries.

“Homeopathic treatment, which costs only Re 1, is a cheap and viable option for the economically backward and the Dalits,” said Rajesh Tripathi, State Minister for Homeopathy. “The government feels the necessity of paying more attention to the poor or backward people.” The state has 1,575 homeopathic dispensaries, of which 488 are in Dalit–dominated areas. But most had been established in or before the ‘90s.

In 2007–08, one dispensary was established in a tribaldominated area and in 200809, around 77 dispensaries and 5 new posts were created for Dalit–dominated and tribal–dominated areas respectively. Uttar Pradesh has one of the largest infrastructures of homeopathy in the country, said Dr Singh.

Already, seven government and two private homeopathic colleges are functional in the state. Two colleges in Gorakhpur and Aligarh are under construction.

“All districts have one District Homeopathic Officer and this year we are planning to create more posts and recruit officers in the district homeopathic offices,” said Dr Singh.