Bhubaneswar: Ayurvedic system of medicine is an integral part of the age-old Shree Jagannath culture. This system of medicine is closely associated with Odia culture and tradition. Odisha has ample opportunities for Ayurvedic treatment. Because there is continuous forest growth in Odisha, for this, the State Government is taking various steps through the Odisha State Medicinal Plant Board (SMPB).
At the same time, there is a need for cooperation of the people and awareness among them as there is no side-effect to Ayurvedic treatment, said Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia while inaugurating the 17th Kalinga Herbal Fair-2023 here on 6 November.
Satyabrata Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Revenue & Disaster Management and Devidatta Biswal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of The Forest Force graced the occasion.
Speaking as the Chief Guest at the fair held at the IDCO Exhibition Ground here today, Minister Shri Singh Khuntia said that the fair is an excellent tool to create awareness among the masses to make Ayurvedic medicine popular.
Shri Sahu ACS Home, FE&CC said that Odisha is a storehouse of natural resources. Medicinal plants are widely used in the Shree Jagannath culture. Post Covid-19 pandemic, the popularity of Indian Ayurvedic medicine is increasing steadily. Therefore, the demand for medicinal plants is also increasing.
Farmers, self-help groups, van suraksha samitis and other social organisations can benefit from the emphasis on increasing production along with cultivation of medicinal plants. For this, the State Government has provided all kinds of facilities and arrangements for concessions, ACS Shri Sahu said.
Debidatta Biswal, PCCF & HoFF said that ayurvedic, allopathic and homoeopathic systems of medicine are different but not indistinguishable from each other. Every treatment method has its independence. Like Kerala, Odisha has huge potential for Ayurvedic treatment.
The Kalinga Herbal Fair is providing a beautiful platform to vaidyas, doctors, farmers, government and non-governmental organisations, pharmaceutical companies. He expressed hope that the public would be particularly benefited by this fair.
In this fair, discussions related to various diseases, students’ meet, senior citizens meet, free health check-ups, Vaidya workshops and various types of medical methods like Ayurveda, Panchakarma, Yoga and Naturopathy treatment and homeopathy treatment have been arranged.
The fair is open to the general public from 11 am to 9 pm every day from 6-12 November.
This year there are 130 stalls and more than 260 participants from various parts of the state and beyond are participating.
The SMPB Chief Executive coordinated the entire show. This year there has been lot of interest seen among the students, senior citizens and others for the State Level Fair.