Foreseeing many possibilities in several areas for substantial development of Ayurveda sector in Kerala, the Ayurveda Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India (AMMOI) has said that it puts its full hope in the soon-to-be formed CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in the state.

Expressing satisfaction over the resounding win for the left-front, Dr. D. Ramanathan, general secretary of AMMOI, said the left-front had announced a host of developmental projects in their election manifesto for the growth of Ayurveda sector, especially academic side.

Pointing out a significant promise, he said the entire Ayurveda community has welcomed the announcement of establishing an Ayurveda University in the state if the Front comes into power. “We are all now feeling happy over the LDF win and hoping that the new government will keep its promises as soon as it comes into power”, he said.

Further, the manifesto assured them that the government would initiate numerous projects to promote traditional medicines and provide all support for the manufacturing units. For the overall development of the Ayurveda system, state government, with the support of the Union Ayush ministry, will try to set up one ‘National Institute of Ayurveda’ (NIM) in Kerala. AMMOI expresses the hope that the new LDF government will go hand in hand with the Union government in accomplishing the dream of NIA.

According to Dr. Ramanathan, on seeing the election manifesto, AMMOI had given a memorandum to the leader of the chief ministerial candidate, Pinarayi Vijayan, when he arrived at Thrissur as part of election campaign. The Ayurveda manufacturers’ organisation wanted the Left Front political alliance to start two Ayurveda medical colleges, one in Idukki and another one in Wynadu. The association expects that the two academic institutions would be materialised within the tenure of the government, he said.

Earlier in 2009, there was a standoff between the then LDF government and the association of Ayurveda medical practitioners in Kerala (AMAI) on the issue of giving permission to the unqualified indigenous healers of north Malabar area to practice Ayurveda and other traditional medicines. Due to some pressure, the government had recognized the local healers’ claim of family tradition, consequently permitted them to do practice in their homes. This decision of the government was countered by AMAI in the High Court which stayed the order.