Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony has called for establishing Ayurveda Council of India with Kerala as its headquarters and also for declaring special economic zones for Ayurveda to accelerate promotion of the manufacture and export of Ayurveda medicines.

He was addressing delegates at the inaugural function of Dhanwanthari Jayanthi celebrations held as part of the World Ayurveda Congress here on Saturday. ``The Union Ministry can do a great lot of help by declaring these zones for Ayurveda industrial units, and I hope that the Government of India will take appropriate action for setting up the Council,'' the Chief Minister said, pointing out that concerted efforts can boost India's share in the world market of herbal medicines.

``The state government will extend all possible help on priority basis for setting up the country's first Ayurveda Park. We have decided to give greater thrust and orientation for the development of IT, biotechnology, tourism and Ayurveda. If serious ideas come from the delegates of the congress, the state will consider it in the Global Investors' Meet in January,'' he said.

State will soon have seven self-financing Ayurveda colleges and one Siddha medical college to create a more congenial atmosphere to boost the Indian System of Medicines, said Antony.

Earlier, inaugurating the Jayanthi celebrations, Sri Sri Ravishanker, founder of Art of Living, said that efforts should be made to revive and revitalise Ayurveda and that we need to look deep into the wisdom of this system which has been prevailing here for ages but somehow ignored.

``Every village should have an Ayurvedic doctor as these remedies can be used by anyone without relying on chemical products. But we also should be open to all other systems,'' he said.

Rithucharya, Dhinacharya and other practices of Ayurveda should be taught in schools and women should learn to make foods based on this system, Sri Sri Ravishanker said, pointing out that the spiritual and scientific aspects of this system of medicine need to highlighted more.

Dr P N V Kurup, Vice-Chancellor of the Gujarat Ayurveda University delivered the Dhanwanthari lecture.

K Thimmappa, Health Minister of Karnataka, Romesh Sharma, Health Minister of Punjab, Prof K I Vasu, national president of Vijnana Bharati, Dr S Sunil Kumar, secretary of World Ayurveda Congress, A Jayakumar, organising secretary of Swadehi Science Movement and C K Ravi, managing partner of Chandrika Products, were also present at the function.

The compendium of invited lectures and a CD on Ayurveda practices were released at the function.