Dehradun: Addressing inauguration session of the 10th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo-2024 at Parade Ground, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this event in Dehradun, stating, “It is a matter of pride for us that more than 50 countries and over 6,000 experts are participating in this program being held in our state.” He noted that over 250 stalls set up at the expo are proof of the global acceptance of Ayurveda.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that the state government is working towards implementing the country’s ‘First Yoga Policy.’ This policy will play a significant role in bringing Ayurveda and yoga together on a large scale to usher in a new revolution in the field of health.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami highlighted that this conference will promote mutual knowledge sharing in the field of Ayurveda, encourage various research initiatives, and foster new opportunities for collaboration and trade. He informed about the initiatives being undertaken by the state government in the AYUSH sector, mentioning that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government is continuously working to promote Ayurveda. Currently, 300 ‘Ayushman Arogya Kendras’ are operational in our state. More than 70 specialists are providing AYUSH consultation through the e-Sanjeevani portal. Additionally, AYUSH hospitals with 50 beds and 10 beds are being established in each district. Furthermore, the government is working to establish one village in each district as a model AYUSH village to promote the cultivation of Ayurvedic herbs. The Chief Minister stated that the state government has already implemented the ‘Uttarakhand AYUSH Policy’ to boost AYUSH manufacturing, wellness, education, research, and the production of medicinal plants. Alongside this, the government is committed to starting AYUSH tele-consultation in the coming years and establishing 50 new yoga and wellness centers.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami mentioned that the state government has requested the Ministry of AYUSH from the Government of India to establish an All India Institute of Ayurveda in Uttarakhand, which will be a milestone in Ayurveda education and research.
He urged experts to promote not only the Hindi names of our herbs but also their English names, which would facilitate easier access to local herbs in the global market. He noted that while we know the local herb ‘Kilmode’ in the mountains, most people are unaware of its English name, ‘Beriberies,’ even though it is known globally and used to create medicines. Therefore, propagating the English names is also essential.
The Chief Minister stated that Devbhoomi Uttarakhand has historically been a land of wisdom in Ayurveda and medicinal wealth since ancient times. The medicinal herbs found in our state have played a significant role in establishing Ayurveda as a fundamental element of health. He emphasized that Ayurveda is a unique system of medicine that has ensured the health of human civilization since ancient times. Ayurveda is not merely limited to herbs and medicines; it is an art of living that teaches us about the right lifestyle. Its purpose is not just to cure diseases but to ultimately prevent them from occurring.
The Chief Minister further mentioned that various programs operated by the central government, such as the ‘National AYUSH Mission’ and the ‘Prakriti Parikshan Abhiyan,’ are playing a vital role in establishing health from cities to villages. After the formal inauguration of the expo, the Chief Minister also inspected the stalls.
The Union Minister of State for AYUSH (Independent Charge), Pratap Rao Jadhav, stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, initiatives taken in the AYUSH sector over the past ten years have led to an eight-fold increase in the production of AYUSH products. Currently, AYUSH and herbal products are being exported to over 150 countries worldwide. He mentioned that Ayurveda is also advancing by adopting technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning tools.
Pratap Rao Jadhav further noted that in India, people generally prefer treatment through Ayurveda; however, in rural areas, doctors tend to recommend allopathic medicines more frequently. This might be due to the scarcity of Ayurvedic medicines and the difficulty in finding all necessary herbal remedies in one place. Therefore, the central government is working to establish AYUSH medicine centers at the district, tehsil, and village levels to make all Ayurvedic medicines available under one roof. The first such center has already been inaugurated at the All India Institute of Ayurveda in Delhi. With the opening of these centers across the country, AYUSH practitioners will be able to write prescriptions more easily. He stated that the World Ayurveda Congress will prove to be a confluence of new ideas, ancient culture, and innovations. The central minister also mentioned that during the four-day event, thousands of people from the surrounding areas will visit the stalls. This event provides a platform for business opportunities as well. He added that to promote Ayurveda, the central government has launched the ‘Prakriti Parikshan Abhiyan’ across the country, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 29.
Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, stated that the organization of the World Ayurveda Conference will help the AYUSH system gain recognition on a global level, and it will also boost the growth of this sector in the surrounding areas where the event is held. He praised Uttarakhand as an ideal state for this event, noting that many of the herbs mentioned in Ayurvedic texts can be found in the Himalayas.
During the conference, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi read a message sent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The inaugural session was addressed by National Organizing Secretary of Vijnan Bharati, Dr. Shiv Kumar Sharma; Chairperson of the 10th World Ayurveda Congress, Vaidya P.M. Warrior; and Secretary of AYUSH in Uttarakhand government, Ravi Nath Raman.
On this occasion state cabinet ministers Shri Satpal Maharaj, Shri Premchand Agarwal, Dr. Dhansingh Rawat; MLA Khazan Das; Savita Kapoor; Umesh Sharma Kau; Kishore Upadhyay; Member of Parliament from Jhansi, Anurag Sharma; and Acharya Balkrishna were also present.
