A press conference was called by Dr. Padma Gurmat, President, Ladakh Amchi Sabha in view of the recent approval by Union Cabinet to establish a National Institute of Sowa Rigpa in Leh on November 22 at Press Club Leh Office.

On behalf of Ladakh Amchi Sabha and Amchis pan India, Dr. Gurmat expressed gratitude to the Government of India headed by Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India for the response to their long-pending demand of establishment of NISR in Leh.
 
Dr. Gurmat briefed about the institute which has been approved as an autonomous organization under the Ministry of AYUSH and projected at a cost of ₹47.25Crores. He also briefed about the institute’s organisational structure, post creation and its functioning.
 
He informed that the Institute would be of great significance in developing Traditional Buddhist Medicinal System not only in Ladakh but across the country and in the Asian countries too where it is being practised. He added that the institute would facilitate education and research-based development related to Sowa Rigpa and will prove to be a centre of scientific-based studies of unique herbs and medicinal plants grown in Ladakh.
 
Dr. Gurmat further informed that the project proposal is estimated at the cost of ₹17 Crores to Hill Council, Leh to be considered under UT Ladakh. He explained that the project includes Sowa-Rigpa dispensary at all block headquarters in Leh and Kargil, construction of wellness centre near vital spring water, provision for 20 indoor patients of Amchi clinic within SNM Hospital Leh and protection and promotion of medicinal plants through herbal gardens.
 
Dr. Gurmat also stressed on the sustainable collection mechanism of medicinal plants and herbs grown in Ladakh to avoid its exploitation and extinction expecting the scope of commercialization of Sowa Rigpa in the region.