PM Modi inaugurates two future-ready Ayurveda institutions at Jaipur, Jamnagar

New Delhi, Nov 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) at Jamnagar in Gujarat and National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA) at Jaipur in Rajasthan on the fifth Ayurveda Day via video conferencing.

These institutions are expected to play global leadership roles in the growth and development of Ayurveda in the 21st century, the Prime Minister's Office said.

The Ayurveda Day is observed every year from 2016 on the birth anniversary of Dhanwantri, revered as a god of traditional Indian medicine.

At the inauguration, DG of the World Health Organisation said that the WHO global centre for traditional medicine will be established in India.

The potential role of Ayurveda in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic will be the focus of this year's Ayurveda Day observation.

Modernisation of AYUSH education is also a priority area for the government.

"Multiple steps have been taken for this in the last 3-4 years. Dedication to the nation of ITRA, Jamnagar as an Institution of National Importance and NIA, Jaipur as an Institution Deemed to be University is a historic step not just in the modernization of Ayurveda Education, but in the evolution of traditional medicine itself," the statement said.

This will provide them the autonomy to upgrade the standard of Ayurveda education, frame various courses as per emerging national and international demand and excel in modern research to generate more and more evidence, it said.

The day is more an occasion of re-dedication to the profession and the society than one of festivities or celebrations, the statement said, adding that utilizing the immense untapped potential of AYUSH systems of healthcare for providing effective and affordable solutions for India's public health challenges is a priority of the government.