PM to Address Valedictory of World Ayurveda Congress at Panaji on Dec 11

PANAJI:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the valedictory session of the 9th World Ayurveda Congress & Arogya Expo here on December 11.

The four-day conclave commencing on December 8 will bring together leading practitioners of Ayurveda and a whole spectrum of stake holders from around the world.

Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and Union Minister for Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, will inaugurate the meet which will mainly focus on the increasing relevance of the holistic and time-tested Indian healthcare system in a world confronted with serious health challenges.

Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Yesso Naik and Union Minister of State for Ayush Dr Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai will also address the meet.

The central theme of the conclave is ‘Ayurveda for One Health,’ which encapsulates the philosophy of wellness envisioned by the ancient sages like Acharya Charaka.

The conclave is being organised by the World Ayurveda Foundation, an initiative of Vijnana Bharati, with the support of the Union Ministry of AYUSH and Government of Goa.

The conclave assumes added significance as it happens when there is a global come back to Ayurveda with people around the world are placing their trust in the traditional medicinal and wellness system which has proved its efficacy over centuries.

The biggest global conclave on traditional wellness system, the event will see a convergence of over 5000 Ayurveda stakeholders including industry leaders, practitioners, traditional healers, educationists, students, medicine manufacturers, growers of medicinal plants and marketing strategists.

There will be 150 invited key-note speakers from 35 countries and 600 overseas Ayurveda stakeholders. The event will also host a buyer-seller meet displaying quality products and services from leading ayurvedic drug manufactures and wellness institutions.

The conclave is packed with plenary sessions to be addressed by an impressive line-up of speakers, invited lectures, narration of success stories, ayurveda expo and cultural programmes, including a documentary film festival on Ayurveda.

Major topics to be deliberated include Expanding the Scope of Ayurveda—New Age Prospects, Innovations and Entrepreneurship, Ayurveda Education, Ayur Informatics, Innovation Ecosystem, Health and Environment and Heal in India.

Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Union Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) and Dr Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary Department of Biotechnology, will be among speakers at the plenary sessions.

Being held in the backdrop of grim health challenges confronting the humanity like Covid-19 pandemic, a key topic of discussion at the meet is ‘Facing Pandemic with Ayurveda.’

The focal theme of the conclave—Ayurveda for One Health—acknowledges that the health of human beings is closely linked to the health of all living beings and our shared environment. This philosophy of health as enshrined in the texts of Ayurveda goes back 5000 years.

“World over, there is a growing trend towards traditional healthcare systems. Among those traditional medicines, Ayurveda offers holistic healthcare solutions, both for the mind and the body.”, said Ranjit Puranik, Head of Dhootapapeshwar, the first Ayurveda manufacturing company in the world.

Goa is hosting the congress when the state has embarked on an ambitious journey to emerge as a global Ayurveda and wellness tourism hub, said Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, who is the Chief Patron of the event.

It is significant to note that the country as a whole stands to benefit from Ayush visa, announced by the Prime Minister, to develop tourism, health and wellness centres, Dr Sawant said.

The positive impact created by WAC in its previous editions is going to repeat here too. The event offers the largest platform for students, stakeholders, practitioners and experts to learn and exchange views and ideas, the organisers said.