Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that Ayurveda is the heritage of India, which has focus on the well-being of the whole humanity. Dedicating two future-ready Ayurveda institutions, Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar and National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur to the nation through video conferencing on 5th Ayurveda Day, Mr Modi said, it is a matter of immense happiness for every Indian that our traditional knowledge is now enriching other countries as well. He said, it is a matter of pride that World Health Organization, WHO has selected India to set up its Global Centre for Traditional Medicine. Mr Modi stressed the need to bring the Ayurveda knowledge out of books, ures and home remedies and develop this ancient knowledge as per modern needs. He remarked that new research is being done in the country by combining the information received from the modern science of the 21st century with our ancient medical knowledge. The Prime Minister said, Ayurveda is not just an alternative today, but is one of the key basis of the country’s health policy. He informed that work is on to develop the National Sowa-Rigpa Institute for research and other studies related to Sowa-Rigpa in Leh. 

 
Congratulating the two institutes for their upgradation, the Prime Minister pointed out that they have more responsibility now and hoped that they will prepare Ayurveda syllabus which meets the international standard. He also called upon the Education Ministry and UGC to find new avenues in disciplines like Ayurveda Physics and Ayurveda Chemistry. Mr Modi also called upon the start-ups and private sector to study the global trends and demands and ensure their participation in the sector. He said, the  National Commission of Indian System of Medicines and The National Commission of Homeopathy were established by the Parliament in the last session and National Education Policy also promotes an integrated approach. He said, the basic notion of this policy is that the knowledge of allopathic practices should be compulsory in the Ayurvedic education.
 

The Prime Minister pointed out that during the Corona period the demand for Ayurvedic products has increased rapidly all over the world. He said, exports of Ayurvedic products increased by about 45 per cent in September this year compared to the previous year. Mr Modi said, the significant increase in export of spices like turmeric, ginger, considered as immunity boosters, shows the sudden boost in confidence in Ayurvedic solutions and Indian spices in the world. He said now, in many countries, specialty drinks related to turmeric are also increasing and the world’s prestigious medical journals are also seeing new hope in Ayurveda. The Prime Minister said, during this Corona period, the focus was not only limited to the use of Ayurveda alone but used to advance research related to AYUSH in the country and the world.

 
Mr Modi said, today, on one hand, India is testing vaccines, on the other, it is also increasing international cooperation on Ayurvedic research to fight COVID. He pointed out that research is going on in more than a hundred places at this time including the All India Institute of Ayurveda in Delhi which has conducted research related to immunity on 80 thousand Delhi Police personnel. He said, it may be the world’s largest group study and there are encouraging results. Mr Modi said, a few more international trials are to be started in the coming days.
 
The Prime Minister said, special emphasis is being given on Ayurvedic medicines, herbs as well as nutritious foods that enhance immunity. He said today, farmers are being encouraged to increase production of coarse grains as well as organic products on the banks of Ganges and in the Himalayan regions. He added the Ministry of AYUSH is working on a comprehensive plan for India to contribute more and more in the wellness of the world, our exports should also increase and the income of our farmers should also increase. Mr Modi pointed out that after the start of the COVID pandemic, the prices of Ayurvedic herbs like Ashwagandha, Giloy, Tulsi have increased a lot. The price of Ashwagandha has more than doubled compared to last year and its direct benefit is reaching our farmers cultivating these herbs.

  The Prime Minister urged Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of AYUSH or other departments, to work together to increase awareness of the usefulness of many herbs available in India. He stressed that the development of the entire ecosystem related to Ayurveda will also promote tourism related to health and wellness in the country.

 
Director General of World Health Organization, WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus gave a video message on the occasion and praised the Prime Minister’s commitment to the universal coverage under Ayushman Bharat and evidence-based promotion of traditional medicines to achieve health related objectives.

 
Minister for AYUSH Shripad Naik, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani were present on the occasion.

The Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar is one the premier institutions of Ayurveda in the country. AIR correspondent reports that the institute has recently got the status of an Institution of National importance. It is the first institute in the Ayush sector to be accorded the INI status. The ITRA, Jamnagar, recently created through an Act of Parliament, is poised to emerge as a world-class health care institution. It has 12 departments, three clinical laboratories and three research laboratories. It is also a leader in research work in traditional medicine, conducting 33 research projects currently. Viadhya Arpan Bhatt , In-Charge Principal of Ayurveda Vidyalay in Jamnagar said that now the institute can expand its research activities at the international level. The ITRA has been formed by conglomerating the cluster of four Ayurveda institutes on the Gujarat Ayurveda University campus in Jamnagar.

 
AIR Jaipur correspondent reports that with the Deemed University status, the NIA will be able to impart even greater standard of teaching, training, research and patient care and also invoke scientific outlook to the knowledge of Ayurvedic System of Medicine. Having a tradition of about 145 years in the field of Ayurveda, the National Institute of Ayurveda is one of the top institutes in the country. This institute is presently affiliated to Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Rajasthan Ayurveda University, Jodhpur.

 
With the deemed university status, new courses in the field of Ayurveda would be started and research work would be promoted. After the formation of the university, this institute will be able to develop synergy with foreign institutions and it is also expected to give a boost to Ayurveda tourism at the local level. Even during the COVID period, this institute has done significant work in making Ayurvedic kadha and treatment of COVID patients.