Union Minister of State for Foreign and Parliamentary Affairs said that Ayurveda is distinct from other branches of medical sciences since it is a different sector of wisdom which showed right life style to the mankind. The union minister was speaking after performing the inauguration of “Garbha Samskara Suputreeyam” national seminar, on October 8, 2023, in connection with the state conference of Viswa Ayurveda Parishad (VAP), at Bhaskareeyam Convention Centre in Kochi. Minister said, since PM Narendra Modiji’s government took over, the Ayurveda medical sector expanded by seven times in eight years and now it is an economy of Rs 1.50 lakh cr.
Dr. T. Krishnakumar, state president of Viswa Ayurveda Parishad presided. Kerala Health University Vice Chancellor Dr. Mohan Kunnummel was the chief guest. Swami Sankaramruthananda Puri, the Dean of Amrutha School of Ayurvda, delivered the felicitation speech. Dr. Jayalakshmi Ammal made the keynote address. The minister presented the Vaidya P.B.A. Venkitacharya Memorial National Ayurvedic Post Graduate Thesis Award to Dr. K.P. Karthik, Dr. Renu Yadav and Dr. V.M. Manjusha. Dr. Narayanan Nambootiri, Dr. N.K. Mahadevan, Dr. P.K. Dharmapalan, Dr. G. Anilkumar and Dr. D. Sureshkumar were honoured by the minister for their outstanding service and performance in Ayurveda practice.
Viswa Ayurvda Parishad national prabhari Dr. Suresh Jakotia, national secretary Dr. Suresh Choudhary, Dr. Sreedhar Anishetty, Dr. Ravikumar Kalyanisseril, Dr. Adarsh C. Ravi and Dr. Dineshkumar spoke on the occasion. The valedictory session was inaugurated by Dr. P.M. Warrier, Kotakkal Arya Vaidyashala Managing Director.
Viswa Ayurveda Parishad demanded legal action against the online media engaged in defaming Ayurveda. Parishad also demanded a high level Ayurveda Kendra, in Kerala, with the standard of All India Institutes. Other demands were not to implement the Kerala Public Health Bill 2023, which contains conditions unfavourable to Ayurveda, before making necessary amendments and to include Ayurveda in MEDICEP scheme.
More than 500 delegates participated in the programme from all over the country.
Viswa Ayurveda Parishad (VAP), an organisation inspired by nationalism, patriotism and the country’s millenniums old culture, was founded in May 1997 with a noble goal to re-establish the glory of Ayurveda in modern times. Parishad activities were started among Ayurveda scholars, practitioners, teachers, students, Ayurvedic drug manufacturers, herbal farmers and common Ayurveda lovers. The activities of VAP has to be viewed in the wake of the growing popularity of Ayurveda and increasing number of patients resorting to Ayurveda treatment. The new policy of the union government to promote Ayurveda is a shot in the arm for the ancient science of Bharat. Ayush Ministry of Government of Bharat has initiated several schemes in this direction. Lot of people, especially foreigners, keep on coming to Bharat to take advantage of Ayurveda since it has specialised in various faculties like ortho, cardiology, urology and gastroenterology, neurology, diabetes, etc.
