National Seminar on Start Ups in Ayush Sector - Scope and Opportunities and Ayurveda Food Expo organized at All India Institute of Ayurveda
In the series of celebrations of 6th Ayurveda Day on the theme ‘Ayurveda
for Poshan, a National Seminar and Ayurveda Food Expo was organized on today at
the All India Institute of Ayurveda campus, New Delhi. Eminent speakers from
Ministry of Ayush, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Food
Processing Industries, Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
(MSME), IITs, IIMs, NCISM, NIFTEM, Food Technologists, and Entrepreneurs shared
their expertise in the workshop. Prominent dignitaries present were Dr Manoj
Nesari, Ayush Advisor, Government of India, Pramod Kumar Pathak, Special
Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Dr Anil Wali, Managing Director, Foundation for
Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT Delhi, and Prof Tanuja Manoj
Nesari, Director AIIA.
Dr Manoj Nesari, Advisor Ministry of Ayush in his Keynote Address said
“Efforts have to be made to convert challenges into opportunities. The culture
of Start Ups can be made possible in Ayush sector by following a model of
sustainability. The National Health Policy under the Government of India
emphasises on nutrition and with Poshan Ahaar Initiative of AIIA with active
inputs and ideas on food start-ups will help in attaining this dream”.
Pramod Kumar Pathak, Special Secretary, Ministry of Ayush in his
presidential address said that representatives from Ayurveda sector of every
state in India have joined for the workshop and more than 400 Ayush institutes
have joined the event virtually. AIIA has been a champion in bringing industry
partners, academicians, policy think tanks together and the Ayurveda Food Expo
will serve as a great example to showcase the kind of impetus that is needed in
the Ayush sector. I am glad to know that the Food Start up Incubation centre
will provide facility to nurture new innovative ideas, to develop it into start
up, know how guidelines, mentee and mentor assignment. If ideas are approved by
MSME, then initial funding upto 15 lakhs can be given.
In the second session speaking on the topic of ‘Role of Incubators in
nurturing incubatees’, Dr Anil Wali, Managing Director, Foundation for
Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT Delhi said Facilitating a
conducive ecosystem is the most important component of a start-up initiative
and I am confident that with a plethora of experts available in their vicinity
AIIA will be able to plan the set up effectively.
Ayurveda practioners doing remarkable work in the sector were also
felicitated on the day. Other prominent speakers in the workshop were Dr
Prabodh Halde, Chairman of All India Food Processors’ Association, Anand
Rajkumar Chordia, Director (Technology and Innovation), Pravin Masalewale
(Suhana), Dr Vimal Pant, Associate Professor (Banking and Finance) at National
Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Indrani
Mahto, Manager, Invest India, Ashish Jain, CEO, Health Sector Skill Council,
Prof Sujata Kadam, Dean, MD Studies, AIIA and Prof Mahesh Vyas, Dean PhD
Studies AIIA, Prof PK Prajapati, Head, Deptartment of Rasashastra &
Bhaishajya Kalpana, AIIA.
Department of Swasthvritta of All India Institute of Ayurveda has also
proposed a start-up "Mahabhaishajya" Pathyahar unit to be started for
authentic and scientific nutritional requirements of patients for management of
ailments as well as provision of Ayurveda Nutraceuticals for maintenance of
health.