Time for ayurveda-led health revolution, says PM Narendra Modi

New Delhi, October 17

Underscoring the importance of ayurveda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said time had come for a “health revolution” under the aegis of the traditional medicine system and pitched for affordable and accessible health care.

Addressing a gathering after dedicating the country’s first All India Institute of Ayurveda to the nation here, the Prime Minister noted that the world is heading “back to nature and wellness”.

Marking Ayurveda Divas on Tuesday, he described the medicine system as India’s strength and urged those working in the sector to revive it. He also asked experts from the field to find medicines which can, like allopathy, give immediate relief to people but without side-effects.

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The Prime Minister also urged private players to use part of their corporate social responsibility funds to help strengthen ayurveda.

“We have seen the IT revolution in the past 30 years. Now, time has come for a health revolution under the aegis of ayurveda. Let’s pledge to strengthen and revive ayurveda,” Modi said at the event.

According to the Prime Minister, efforts were allegedly made to destroy “India’s strengths” during the “era of slavery” (pre-Independence period). Ayurveda, he added, did not become a priority after Independence too.

Listing out steps being taken by his government to revive and strengthen the system, Modi said ayurveda-related hospitals should be set up in each district of the country.

He said the Ayush ministry would ensure that there was a good ayurveda hospital in each district.

Noting that people across the world were getting attracted to good health as well as wellness, the Prime Minister suggested that time was ripe for an atmosphere of ayurveda to evolve.

He said there was need for a relook of the ayurveda syllabus and underlined the requirement for standard guidelines and treatment in the medicine system so it is not overpowered by allopathy.

The government, Modi added, respected all health and medicine systems.

He said the Ministries of Ayush and Agriculture could guide farmers to sow medicinal plants in their fields. This would also help farmers boost their income in line with the government’s plan to double their income by 2022, when India attained 75 years of Independence.

Modi also reiterated the importance of cleanliness as part of preventive health care. PTI