AyurvedNews.com

Kerala is working on an intellectual property rights (IPR) policy aimed at safeguarding the state’s rich base of ayurveda and herbal medicine and treatment.

“The Indian Patents Act and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, clearly state that every state should form a biodiversity board, but nothing has happened so far. We have already floated the draft policy and a supervisory committee has been formed with the chief minister as the chairman. The committee will include several experts and officials,” Kerala Law Minister M Vijayakumar said.

This policy is crucial for Kerala because of the state’s rich traditional knowledge and practice of ayurveda, the Indian system of medicine.

“Ayurveda is a livelihood for many but there is no legal backing and it has already been an area of large-scale misappropriation. Hence we have to have our own policy in this respect.

“The draft has already been circulated for discussions and the response to it has been tremendous. It will soon come up for discussion in the assembly,” said the minister.

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Demand for the ‘Ayurvedic’ burqas from Saudi Arabia is growing rapidly. These garments are made from only natural cotton fabric, which is coloured with organic dyes. This is particularly to avoid any toxic chemicals that may cause irritations and allergies.

Material, appropriately named ‘Ayurvastra’as in the ayurveda texts, is then treated with medicinal Ayurvedic herbs that have healing values. Burqas made from this environmental-friendly and soothing method has become a rage in Saudi Arabia, which imported over 4000-5000 pieces.

Recognizing the trend, several units in Balaramapuram, a small village in Thiruvananthapuram, have raised their output and their export has surged significantly. This product is also expanding its markets in countries like the US, South Africa, Japan, France and Mexico.

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