- About
- Academic Programs
- Research
- Clinical Facilities & Services
- Public Health & Outreach
- Collaboration & Linkages
- Key Achievements
- Who’s Who
- Publications & Resources
- Digital Integration
- Contact
- Benefit
North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR), Pasighat
Parent Ministry: Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India
Established: 2012
Location: Pasighat, District East Siang, Arunachal Pradesh – 791102
Status: Autonomous Institute under the Ministry of AYUSH
Official Website: https://neiafmr.org.in
What Is NEIAFMR, Pasighat?
The North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR) is India’s premier institute focused on the integration of Ayurveda with the diverse folk and tribal healing traditions of Northeast India.
It aims to scientifically validate, preserve, and promote traditional medicine systems practiced by indigenous communities across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, and Sikkim.
In simple words —
NEIAFMR Pasighat is India’s bridge between ancient Ayurveda and the living folk medicine heritage of the Northeast — combining tradition, biodiversity, and research for holistic health.
Vision & Mission
| Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| Documentation & Conservation | To preserve and validate folk medicine traditions of Northeast India. |
| Integration with Ayurveda | To harmonize indigenous knowledge with Ayurvedic principles. |
| Scientific Validation | To establish research evidence for traditional practices and herbs. |
| Public Health Impact | To promote safe, effective, and affordable healthcare. |
| Education & Training | To train professionals in Ayurveda, folk medicine, and ethnopharmacology. |
Institutional Overview
| Division | Function |
|---|---|
| Ayurveda Division | Education and clinical research on Ayurvedic principles. |
| Folk Medicine Division | Documentation and validation of traditional tribal healing systems. |
| Pharmacognosy & Botany Division | Identification and conservation of medicinal plants. |
| Pharmacy & Pharmacology Division | Drug formulation and safety studies. |
| Public Health & Community Outreach Division | Implementation of AYUSH health programs. |
Unique Role:
NEIAFMR acts as a national repository for the traditional folk medicine knowledge of Northeast India, promoting its safe and scientific use while protecting intellectual property rights of local healers.
Academic & Training Programs
| Program | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery) | 5.5 years | Undergraduate degree in Ayurveda (started 2021). |
| Certificate Courses in Folk Medicine | 3–6 months | Training on indigenous healing practices and herbal identification. |
| Pharmacognosy Training | Short-term | Botanical survey and drug authentication methods. |
| Internship Programs | 1 year | Field-based research and hospital exposure. |
| Workshops & CME | Variable | Capacity building for AYUSH and folk healers. |
Research & Development
NEIAFMR is a research-intensive institute, conducting interdisciplinary studies on medicinal plants, traditional formulations, and health practices prevalent in the Northeast.
| Research Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Ethnobotanical Studies | Field documentation of medicinal plants used by local tribes. |
| Pharmacognostic Research | Scientific analysis and standardization of herbal ingredients. |
| Phytochemical Studies | Extraction and identification of active constituents. |
| Clinical Research | Ayurvedic and folk formulations tested for common diseases. |
| Biodiversity Conservation | Cultivation of rare and endangered medicinal plants. |
Recent Research Achievements:
- Documented over 2,000 medicinal plants from Northeast India.
- Published Ayurveda–Folk Medicine Compendium for the region.
- Conducted clinical studies on diabetes, arthritis, and respiratory ailments.
- Developed herbal formulations from traditional knowledge of Adi, Nyishi, and Apatani tribes.
- Established DNA barcoding for plant authentication.
Clinical Facilities & Services
| Facility | Description |
|---|---|
| OPD Services | Daily Ayurveda consultation and treatment. |
| IPD Ward | 50-bed inpatient department for chronic and lifestyle diseases. |
| Pharmacy Unit | Preparation of herbal formulations under GMP conditions. |
| Diagnostic Facilities | Modern pathology and imaging integrated with Ayurvedic diagnosis. |
| Medicinal Plant Garden | Spread over 15 acres with 500+ species. |
| Mobile Health Units | Provide rural and tribal healthcare outreach. |
Daily Footfall: 300+ OPD patients and 50+ IPD admissions (average).
Public Health & Outreach
| Program | Objective |
|---|---|
| Tribal Health Care Research Program (THCRP) | Provides healthcare and documents tribal medicine practices. |
| School & College Outreach | Awareness on herbal conservation and AYUSH lifestyle. |
| Swasthya Rakshan Program (SRP) | Promotes preventive health in rural communities. |
| Women & Child Health Program | Ayurveda-based care for maternal and child health. |
| Folk Healers’ Meet & Workshops | Encourages knowledge-sharing between traditional healers and scientists. |
Collaboration & Linkages
| Partner Institution | Area of Collaboration |
|---|---|
| ICMR & CSIR | Biomedical and phytochemical validation. |
| NERIST & RGU, Arunachal Pradesh | Academic and technical training partnerships. |
| Botanical Survey of India (BSI) | Medicinal plant identification. |
| National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) | Conservation and cultivation programs. |
| Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) | Joint research and standardization work. |
| WHO-GCTM (Jamnagar) | International cooperation in traditional medicine |
Key Achievements
Established India’s first Folk Medicine Research Centre (2012).
Developed a digital database of 2,000+ medicinal plants.
Published Handbook of Folk Medicine Practices of Northeast India.
Created Herbal Garden and Gene Bank of regional flora.
Conducted National Seminar on Ayurveda & Folk Integration (2023).
Launched Ayur-Folk Mobile App for community awareness.
Declared as a Centre of Excellence in Folk Medicine Research (2024).
Who’s Who (Leadership & Governance)
| Designation | Officer Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Director, NEIAFMR | Dr. N. Srikanth (as of 2025) | Institutional head overseeing academics, research, and administration. |
| Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH | Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha | Policy direction and coordination. |
| Dean (Academics) | — | Academic affairs and student programs. |
| Research Officer (Ayurveda) | — | Project coordination and scientific evaluation. |
| Administrative Officer | — | Institute operations and logistics. |
Publications & Resources
- NEIAFMR Annual Reports
- Compendium on Northeast Folk Medicine
- Ayurveda–Folk Fusion Journal
- Herbal Identification Manuals
- Tribal Medicinal Practices Handbooks
- Field Survey & Ethnobotanical Atlas of Northeast India
Digital Integration
| Platform | Function |
|---|---|
| AYUSH Research Portal | Repository of institute research work. |
| AYUSH GRID | Performance and data monitoring system. |
| AYUSH e-Learning | Online courses for Ayurveda & folk medicine. |
| Digital Herbal Repository | Archiving traditional formulations. |
| NAM Portal | Funding and implementation tracking. |
Contact & Grievance Redressal
North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR)
📍 Pasighat, District East Siang, Arunachal Pradesh – 791102
📧 Email: neiafmr.ayush@gmail.com / director.neiafmr@gov.in
📞 Phone: 0368-2222559 / 0368-2222910
🌐 Website: https://neiafmr.org.in
Grievances:
https://pgportal.gov.in → Ministry of AYUSH → NEIAFMR, Pasighat
Useful Links
- Ministry of AYUSH: https://ayush.gov.in
- AYUSH Research Portal: https://ayushportal.nic.in
- National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB): https://nmpb.nic.in
- AYUSH GRID: https://ayushgrid.gov.in
- National AYUSH Mission: https://namayush.gov.in
Benefits to Citizens
| Beneficiary | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Students | Training in Ayurveda and regional folk medicine systems. |
| Patients | Affordable natural healthcare using local herbal formulations. |
| Researchers | Access to medicinal plant data and ethnobotanical studies. |
| Healers & Practitioners | Skill certification and research collaboration. |
| Public | Awareness programs promoting preventive and eco-friendly healthcare. |
Impact
- Acts as the national hub for Ayurveda–Folk integration and research.
- Documents and preserves indigenous knowledge of 100+ tribes.
- Promotes AYUSH-based community healthcare in remote regions.
- Strengthens India’s traditional medicine diversity and heritage.
- Supports SDG-3 (Good Health & Well-being) through natural healthcare access.