THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister K K Shylaja on Sunday said the state has great potential in ayurveda and the government is planning to set up an International Research Institute for Ayurveda (IRAI) to
tap it.
Inaugurating the 38th annual state council of Ayurveda Medical Association of India (AMAI) here, she said the institute would help inspire more innovations and spread the traditional system.
Shylaja said the institute would have state-of-the-art facilities for research in ayurveda and will be a place to gain knowledge even for common man as it would have a museum that would be made a knowledge centre. The state government will also seek the support of the Centre for the purpose, she said. A comprehensive draft plan will be prepared for the development of ayurveda and AYUSH systems, she said. The planting of herbs should be encouraged as part of this, for which a project is ready for launch. The aim of the project is to increase the export of herbs and ayurvedic medicines.
The minister also said the Aardram project of the Health Department will be launched on February 16.
Shylaja gave away the AMAI awards, including the AMAI media-2016 award to Prabhat Nair, principal correspondent, The New Indian Express, Thiruvananthapuram; Bhishak Ratna to Dr C Abu of Vadakara; and Dr N V K Varier memorial ayurveda pracharan award to Dr Sharmmad Khan.
P K Sreemathy MP delivered the keynote address and AMAI president Dr G Vinod Kumar presided over the function.