Kerala mulls tax concession on ayurveda medicines

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Monday said the government is considering tax concession on ayurveda medicines and other steps to promote the traditional system of medicine.

“We are committed to set up authentic, quality products as well as classic, curative and promotional services such as wellness centres and ayurveda spas,” said Chandy at a global ayurveda conference here.

The government had selected seven specific areas in ayurveda for its wholesome development, he said.

“We have now got the support of Sam Pitroda (adviser to the prime minister on public infrastructure, information and innovations) who is right now working on this. We are also looking at providing tax concession on ayurveda medicines,” he said

“The scarcity of medicinal plants in the state has been one of the biggest threats that ayurveda faces. Our earlier government had enacted a law to help increase planting of herbal plants. This law will come into force as soon as possible,” said Chandy.

V.S. Rajashekaran Pillai, former chief of Indira Gandhi National Open University, said there was a need for plans for protecting and encouraging the medicinal plants’ plantation.

“Another important programme in connection with ayurveda is the purification of water through ayurvedic methods,” he said.

R.S. Jayawardane, general manager, Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturing Corporation, Sri Lanka, made it clear that his country could not promote its traditional system of medicine without India’s support.

“Even though both the nations are geographically separated, they both are emotionally the same. India and Sri Lanka are to sign a MoU (memorandum of understanding) on traditional medicines,” said Jayawardane.