DEC 12 PROPOSED AS WORLD AYURVEDA DAY

From V. Sankara

BANGALORE, Dec 13 (Bernama) -- The Karnataka state government will propose
to the Indian Government to declare Dec 12 as World Ayurveda Day to promote and
popularise the traditional system of medicine native to India.

Indian Minister of Medical Education S. A. Ramadass said the proposal would
be made, following the sucesss of the 4th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya
Expo near here, which attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors.

"The state government and the congress secretariat would discuss to
commemorate Ayurveda Day after having discussions with relevant stake holders.

"We want to promote ayurveda, not only in India but across the globe," he
told reporters before closing the four-day Congress which ended near here
Monday.

The congress, believed to be the world's largest fair for complementary
and alternative healthcare, managed to attract over 4,000 delegates from more
than 30 countries.

Among the objectives of the congress was to facilitate acceptance and
recognition for ayurveda as a complete health system adoptable in all countries
and create appropriate platforms for 'scientific basing' of ayurveda, along with
suitable infrastructures to popularise the system.

Ramadass said the outcome of the congress would be discussed deliberately
to come up with a policy concerning ayurvedic education and healthcare system.

He also said the state government was keen on implementation of programmes
such as establisment of an ayurveda university, statewide promotion of medicine
plant cultivation and a pharma city.

-- BERNAMA