The Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India (AMMOI) and other associations representing the sector prepared a detailed memorandum highlighting the needs of the industry. This resolution was framed and passed by the members of the Global Ayurveda festival during the second edition of Ayurveda Keralam 2012 organized in collaboration with Kerala government in Thiruvananthapuram recently.
The aim behind the same was to create awareness about the principles and practices of Ayurveda in the country and to strengthen its presence across the globe.
Following the Global Ayurveda festival, the association demanded the recognition of Kerala as the 'Ayurveda state of India' with the establishment of separate ministry for Ayurveda for Kerala and an independent ministry for Ayush in the centre. This demand comes after considering the immense contribution that the state makes for the growth of Ayurveda sector in the country with its high quality products.
Dr Ramanathan Devaraj Iyer, president of AMMOI, informed that since Kerala plays a vital role in the development and growth of this sector, initiatives should be taken by the government to ensure that the state is given proper incentives to propel this growth trend further. The resolution also demands setting up of a certification agency in the state that will enable and ensure the customers about the authentic Kerala ayurvedic products and services by the state government.
Dr Iyer pointed out that given the high quality of ayurvedic products that the state churns out, it is imperative that such a mechanism is created so that it will help strengthen brand Kerala in the field of Ayurveda.
He demanded, “We want the government to provide our sector with innovative long term support system through various governmental agencies and schemes alongside incentives like tax holidays and concessions, so that we can attain tenfold increase in the turnover in the next five years. Most importantly, apart from strengthening its hold on the national market. the government should also take steps to form a joint action programme with the SAARC countries for promoting Ayurveda across the globe as well.”
With a view to increase the cultivation of the medicinal plants and to attract more people into doing the same, the resolution also urges the government to provide for subsidy, grants and soft loans for farmers on long term basis. It demanded that along with large scale production medicinal plant cultivation should also be promoted in the co-operative sector.