Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (December 01) said Ayurveda is an integral part of Indian tradition and ethos, while emphasising that it was not merely a medicine system but a way of life. As the birthplace of Ayurveda, India remains firmly committed to expanding its global footprint, he said in a message to the delegates of the Global Ayurveda Festival (GAF), which got underway here. As the PM was abroad, his message was read out by Union Minister of State for External and Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan at the inaugural ceremony of the five-day conclave, launched by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar here. PM said,
An integral part of Indian tradition and ethos, Ayurveda is not merely a medicine system but an entire way of life… As the birthplace of Ayurveda, India remains firmly committed to expanding its global footprint.
Be it the celebration of Yoga Day as a global festival of health and wellness or the establishment of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India, the nation’s commitment to working steadfastly for the wellbeing of humanity is making an impact, he explained.
The PM noted that Ayurveda goes beyond treating illness and promotes wellness. He added,
Focusing on both physical strength and mental well-being, Ayurveda is a comprehensive system of holistic wellness. The idea of One Earth, One Health, a universal vision of health, is rooted in the ancient Indian principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
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Hailing the Global Ayurveda Festival (GAF) that began here as a commendable initiative to promote Ayurveda globally, PM Modi said this initiative will benefit all of humanity.
He pointed out that collective experiences and guidance from various stakeholders on Ayurveda will further the popularity and outreach of the Indian wellness system. He stated,
This coming together of the Ayurveda community cutting across organisational boundaries augurs well for humanity.
The Prime Minister commended the initiative of the ministries of Ayush, External Affairs, Tourism, MSMEs, and the Government of Kerala, as well as a consortium of the Ayush fraternity.
Noting that it is apt that the festival of Ayurveda was taking place in Kerala, he said people of the state have continued to maintain a healthy relationship with Ayurveda and traditional medicine.
Modi also highlighted GAF’s role in connecting this profound tradition with the global community. He said,
I have no doubt it will lead to fresh opportunities for global collaborations in healthcare and research. The participation of 7500 delegates from 75 nations at GAF reflects global interest in Ayurveda as a wellness system.
Also Read: Need A Fusion Of Traditional And Modern Medicines For Healthcare Outcomes: Ayush Minister
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
