Kerala Ayurveda industry in sinking, seeks Central help

Kozhikode. Ayurveda industry leaders in the State have urged the Union government to take up a survey to ascertain the losses suffered by Ayurveda medicine manufacturers, practitioners, and retail shop owners in the recent floods, reports The Hindu.

They want the government to include the losses in the Centrally sponsored scheme to ensure rehabilitation and financial help. In a letter to the Prime Minister and Secretary, Union Ministry of Ayush, the Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India (AMMOI) pointed out that the floods had affected all manufacturing units, panchakarma kendras, and retail shops in Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Wayanad districts. Most of them had been submerged in the floodwaters. An unofficial estimate of the loss was around Rs. 50 crore.

According to The Hindu, there are around 650 Ayurveda medicine manufacturing units, 400 small and medium-sized panchakarma units and 5,000 Ayurveda retail shops across the State. Association general secretary D. Ramanathan told The Hindu that most of the units cannot claim insurance coverage as they had not availed themselves of loans. The association pointed out that Kerala’s major source of income was from medical and health tourism to which Ayurveda industry was a major contributor.

“Likewise, the industry in Kerala is also a major contributor to foreign trade. It is of utmost importance that Ayurveda industry should be given all help to come out of the current difficulties. Otherwise this industry will face total liquidation,” the letter pointed out.