By Anita Shukla, Senior Correspondent
NAGPUR, July 11: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has reaffirmed the Maharashtra Government’s commitment to promoting acupuncture education and expanding academic opportunities in the field, stating that the administration will extend full support to strengthen this alternative branch of healthcare.
Speaking at the inauguration of the National Conference on Acupuncture (ACUCON 2026), held at the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Convention Centre in Nagpur, the Chief Minister highlighted how acupuncture has helped countless patients overcome various chronic ailments. Sharing a personal experience, he recalled that nearly 23 to 24 years ago, he had suffered from severe back pain and successfully recovered through specialized acupuncture treatment.
Fadnavis noted that “seeing is believing,” emphasizing that acupuncture is a treatment system that earns people’s trust through direct experience and proven clinical outcomes. Describing it as a holistic system of medicine, he acknowledged the regulatory and institutional challenges faced by the sector and assured that the State Government would make every effort to remove systemic obstacles and facilitate its long-term growth. He further stated that the government remains dedicated to strengthening academic pathways and enhancing institutional recognition for acupuncture, ensuring the discipline can expand further to benefit a larger segment of the population.
Dr. Rumi Beramji of the Maharashtra Council of Acupuncture credited Chief Minister Fadnavis with playing a significant role in securing academic recognition and institutional support for the discipline. She noted that his continued policy-level interventions helped resolve several administrative challenges, enabling the growth of the profession across Maharashtra. According to Dr. Beramji, the state now boasts more than 4,500 registered acupuncture practitioners, nearly 60 percent of whom are women, reflecting a substantial rise in female participation within the field. Dr. Raman Kapoor, President of the Indian Society of Medical Acupuncture, also acknowledged and lauded the State Government’s progressive support for the development of acupuncture education and practice
