It is a matter of pride that the World Health Organisation selected India to set up a traditional medicine centre. I am confident it will emerge as a centre for global wellness, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while inaugurating two future-ready Ayurveda institutions at Jaipur and Jamnagar via video conferencing on the occasion of the fifth Ayurveda Day on Friday.
Modi said Ayurveda is India's heritage whose expansion entails the welfare of humanity and all Indians will be happy to see that the country's traditional knowledge is making other countries prosperous.
"Everything is being integrated into today’s era and this approach has made Ayurveda play an important role in the medical world. Allopathic and Ayurvedic practices will now go hand in hand. For the first time, the science of our ancient India is being integrated with the science of the 21 century," PM Modi added.
"Now that you all are a part of the nation’s topmost Ayurvedic centre, your responsibility has increased. You have to come up with a syllabus that is of the international level," PM Modi said after inaugurating the two institutes.
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the announcement in a video message at the event. "I am pleased to announce that we have agreed to open a WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India to strengthen the evidence, research, training and awareness of traditional and complementary medicine," Ghebreyesus said.
"This new centre will support WHO's efforts to implement the WHO traditional medicine strategy 2014-2023 which aims to support countries in developing policies and action plans to strengthen the role of traditional medicine as part of their journey to universal health coverage and a healthier, fairer and safer world," he added.
The Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar (Gujarat) and the National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), Jaipur (Rajasthan) are both premier institutions of Ayurveda in the country.
The Jamnagar institute has been conferred the status of an Institution of National Importance (INI) by an act of Parliament and the one at Jaipur has been designated an Institution Deemed to be University (De novo Category) by the University Grants Commission (UGC), according to the AYUSH ministry.
The demand for immunity boosters from India such as turmeric and Ayurvedic products has grown globally, the PM emphasised. "Despite our nation being very populous, the COVID-19 situation is under control because every household is consuming immunity boosters like turmeric milk, the ashwagandha herb, kaadha etc. The demand for these products has increased during the pandemic," he said.
Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani were also present at the event. Earlier in the day, the PM had wished the nation on the occasion of Ayurveda Day. "Greetings on Ayurveda Day. On this special day, will be inaugurating two Ayurveda institutes, located in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The programme begins at 10:30 AM. Do watch!" he tweeted.
The Ayurveda Day is being observed every year since 2016 on the day of Dhanwantri Jayanti. Ayurveda day is more an occasion of re-dedication to the profession and the society than as a festivity or mere celebration. The potential role of Ayurveda in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic will be the focus of this year’s Ayurveda Day celebrations.
