Sushrut Awards 2021

In line with the Government of India's vision to support start-ups in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed awards to the winners of 'Ayush Start-up Challenge' organised by All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in association with Start-up India. The challenge was launched on February 4, 2022. The main aim of the Challenge is to encourage early-stage start-ups and individuals working on innovations in Ayurveda and other alternative healing and medicine systems. There were three entry categories for participating in the challenge -- Ayush Food Innovations, Ayush Bio-instrumentation (Hardware solutions) and Ayush IT Solutions (Software solutions). There were two winners in each of the three categories with a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh for the winner and Rs 50,000 for the runner-up. Overall, there were six winners. Under the 'Food Innovations in Ayush Sector: Ready to Eat Nutritious Ayurveda Ahara (Food)' category Ayur Foods won the first prize for developing Therapeutic Ayurveda Nutraceuticals. Priya Nitin Gokhale bagged the first prize in 'Ayush Bio-instrumentation (Hardware Solutions) and Innovations in Healthcare' category for Thermoregulator for sudation chamber. Nadipulse Prognostics Private Limited grabbed the first for Nadiyantra-pulse diagnosis in 'Ayush IT Solutions in the areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based solutions in Ayurveda Diagnostics, Virtual reality, Biosensors & Trackers'. At the Global Ayush Investment & Innovation Summit 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the efforts of All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in encouraging the growth of Ayush start-ups in the country and said: "There are immense opportunities for investment in the Ayush sector. The Ayush Ministry has been promoting the culture of traditional medicine start-ups and has received an encouraging response from the youth. The All India Institute of Ayurveda had organised the Ayush Start Up Challenge recently through its newly established incubation centre. "The centre will offer technical know-how and expertise to budding entrepreneurs and startups to innovate and invest in Ayush systems. Since the beginning of this year, India has already seen 14 start-ups entering the unicorn club, and the day is not far when we will soon have a unicorn from the Ayush sector too." Speaking on the occasion, Prof. (Dr.) Tanuja Manoj Nesari, Director, AIIA said, "I would like to congratulate all the winners of the Ayush Start-up Challenge. AIIA, being the apex body for Ayurveda in India, works under the guidance of the Ministry of Ayush and supports the growth of this sector in the country. Apart from identifying promising start-ups and rewarding them, we are also providing incubation support through guidance and skill development, which will go a long way in helping these start-ups realise their next phase of growth. Start-ups in India are growing at a phenomenal scale and Ayush could emerge as a leading sector for driving entrepreneurship and innovation." The incubation support would entitle winners to tap into the vast knowledge and resource pool of AIIA across the three wings of the institute, namely research, academics, and hospital. The 'Ayush Start-up Challenge' was open for participation from both early-stage start-ups as well as individuals as a group. A group of 3-5 individuals was allowed to participate in the programme. Read More► Modi Announces Special Mark for Ayush Products

It is very common during the winter and monsoon seasons for us to be more susceptible to various infections. According to Ayurveda, a year is divided into 2 kaalas i.e., Uttaryana and Dakshinayana. Each kaala consists of 3 seasons, and so 6 seasons per year with each season persisting for about 2 months. Uttaryana Kaala (14 January to 14 July) Shishir Ritu (Winter) Mid- January to Mid- March Vasant Ritu (Spring) Mid- March to Mid-May Grishma Ritu (Summer) Mid- May to Mid- July Dakshinayana Kaala (14 July to 14 January) Varsha Ritu (Monsoon) Mid- July to Mid- September Sharad Ritu (Autumn/ Fall) Mid- September to Mid- November Hemant Ritu (Late Autumn/Pre-Winter) Mid- November to Mid- January Out of these 6 seasons, Shishir Ritu (winter) extending from Mid-January to Mid-March is a period that remains cold and windy. Ritusandhi: 'Ritu' means season and 'Sandhi' means junction. It Is a junctional period consisting of the last 7 days of the previous season and the first 7 days of the next season. During this period, our body is prone to infections. The common ailments which occur during the winter season are: Common Cold: A common cold is an upper respiratory tract infection caused mainly by viruses. It mainly affects children, old aged people and other immune-compromised individuals. The symptoms include throat irritation, cough with or without phlegm, running nose, sneezing, watery eyes, headache and a low-grade fever. Stomach Flu: Stomach flu can spread rapidly during the winter season and is caused by the Norovirus. In this condition, there is an ongoing inflammation of the mucosal lining of the stomach. It can be easily transmitted through food and drinks and through feco-oral contamination. The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhoea and stomach cramps. The person may also feel chills, headaches, fatigue and muscle aches. Extreme Dry Skin: Dry skin also known as winter skin, is usually worsened during the winter season when the environmental humidity is very low. This is because of the cold and dry air which evaporates the water content of the skin very quickly, making it dry and tight. Skin can be prone to inflammations during this period. Asthma: Asthma is a condition in which the airway becomes narrow and inflamed, leading to difficulty in breathing, cough and wheezing. For some Individuals, these symptoms may flare up during the winter season. The cold dry air can irritate the airways, producing more mucus and increasing the symptoms. Also, the cold environment can worsen airway constriction. Flu: Flu is commonly mistaken for a common cold but both are different. It is a common viral infection that can be even life-threatening in highly vulnerable groups. It affects the lungs, throat and nose. Flu commonly affects younger and older populations and also people who have reduced immunity or other underlying chronic conditions. Symptoms include high fever, chills, sore throat, nausea, swollen lymph nodes and headache. Wellness Tips for Winter Ailments Practice Good Personal Hygiene: Practising good personal hygiene is one of the most important ways to protect yourself from getting infectious diseases such as stomach flu, common cold and flu. It also helps to prevent the spread of infection from yourself to the next person. Yogic Kriyas: Practising yogic kriyas such as Jala neti will help to remove the excess mucous from the upper respiratory tract and help in the proper airflow without any obstruction. Thus it also helps in asthmatic conditions and alleviates congestion, allergies and cold. It should be practised under the guidance of a proper Yoga trainer. Care should be taken to blow the nostril properly after the practice to avoid headaches. Herbal Remedies Basil: Basil has good antiseptic and antiviral properties and is recommended for viral infections like the common cold and flu. It also helps to liquefy the phlegm and is effective for cough and Asthma. It can be added as a topping to soups and sauces Turmeric: Turmeric has a great antiviral property and acts effectively against the influenza virus. It is also rich in antioxidants and has an anti-inflammatory property. Dietary Measures Vitamin C Rich Foods: Taking Vitamin C rich food is essential for the repair of the tissues. It helps to improve the production of white blood cells and fights against infection. Vitamin C rich foods include Amla, strawberries, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, pepper, citrus fruits like lemon, orange. Probiotics: Probiotics reduces the possibility of getting upper respiratory tract infections. They help to keep the immune system healthy. It includes buttermilk, fermented rice water, pickled vegetables, kefir etc. Stay Hydrated: Having a sufficient amount of warm water will help to maintain the moisture content of the skin. Hot Soups: Soups are a great diet to be added to our winter menu. This can be further enhanced by using various herbs and spices which are good for winters such as rosemary, oregano, ginger, garlic, pepper, cumin etc. Exercise: Moderate exercise is extremely important to keep our metabolism high. We can get into cardio or yoga practices that help to elevate the body heat and to improve heart functions so that the circulation can be improved to different parts of the body. (Dr Manoj Kutteri, Wellness Director, Atmantan Wellness Centre) Read More► Understanding The Need of Nail Hygiene After Covid

Budget of Rs. 260 crores given for expanding the infrastructure of NIA’s satellite centre of Panchkula, Himachal Pradesh. The National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur commemorated 6th National Ayurveda Day by hosting a two-day event to encourage the Ayurvedic principles of wellness and healing in alignment with the theme, ‘Ayurveda for Poshan’. The event started with Dhanwantri Poojan. India is striving to become the global centre for traditional medicine and there is increasing collaboration between states and central government to make advancements in field of AYUSH. Speaking as the chief guest of the programme, Union Minister of AYUSH, Shri Sarbanand Sonowal announced release of Rs. 260 crores for expanding the infrastructure of NIA’s satellite centre of Panchkula, Himachal Pradesh. Shri Sarbanand Sonowal, Union Minister of Ayush, Ports, Shipping & Waterways said on the occasion, “Ayurveda can play an important role in raising awareness among the general public about the necessity and importance of leading a disease-free, healthy and long life, both physical and mental. The potential of Ayurveda in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and how it can contribute significantly to lower the burden of non-communicable diseases in India is immense. There is an urgent need to raise awareness about the strength of Ayurveda treatment as India has a rich resource for plant-based medicines along with an ancient glorious history of practicing Ayurveda Shashtra. Considering the tremendous achievements of NIA, Ministry of Ayush has decided to expand the infrastructure of NIA at Panchkula and Rs. 260 crore have been released to NIA and it is hoped that NIA will glorify the practice of Ayurveda globally.” Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai, Union Minister of State for Ayush, Women & Child Welfare said, “The Covid pandemic has amply emphasized on the importance of wellness and preventive care in order to live a healthy life. We need to focus showcasing the tremendous potential of Ayurveda to the world. Today, many first world countries are also looking up to Ayurveda for treatment and cure. The current generation should uphold the Ayurveda principle of diet to lead a disease-free, healthy lifestyle.” Dr. Raghu Sharma, Rajasthan’s Minister for Medical Education, Health and Indian Systems of Medicine said, “Ayurveda is integral to Rajasthan and it's culture. We have been practicing it for ages. This year's theme, Ayurveda for Poshan couldn't be more relevant to address the issue of malnutrition and sedentary lifestyle induced NCDs. The theme should resonate across the country to bring about a change in people's lives and for this we should strengthen the research in this field.” minster also reassured that the state government of Rajasthan will extend all help to National Institute of Ayurveda to build and strengthen capacities and resources and continue on the path to make Rajasthan a global attraction in the field of Ayurveda. Shri Ramcharan Bohra, Member of Parliament from Jaipur City, said “Rajasthan needs a special recognition in practicing Ayurveda under Ayushman Bharat and National Institute of Ayurveda will lead the field of Ayurveda research”. Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush said, “Centre of Excellences under AYUSH has been doing path breaking work. The importance of same has been reflected across the country with inclusion of Ayurveda as part of Biology subject in JNU also. We also witnessed the release of important documents and films. It is hoped that this event will benefit the general public in maintaining their health and well-being. We are committed to our mission in establishing Ayurveda as one of the most reliable and effective form of treatments in the area of treating non-communicable diseases as well." Prof. Sanjeev Sharma, Director and Vice-Chancellor of National Institute of Ayurveda said, “We are really happy and proud to be able to successfully organize the events celebrating the 6th National Ayurveda Day. National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur organized this two-day event with gaiety and enthusiasm and the series of insightful initiatives were attended and well appreciated by the Ministers, Policy Makers, Administrators, Scholars not only from Ayurveda but from other fields as well.” The event saw the release of Ayurveda Swasthya Samiksha, a handbook containing daily routines, Ayurveda for Poshan, a booklet, NIA Nutri Cookies suitable for children and adults, digitized versions of three rare publications: the Charaka Samhita with Charaka-Nyasa commentary of Acharya Bhattar Harichandra & Charak-Panjika of Acharya Swamikumar,, Charaka Samhita with Charaka Pradipika commentary written in the early 20th Century by Acharya Jyotish Chandra Saraswati  and Chakradutta with Ratnaprabha of Nishchala Kar and Tattvachadrika. In addition, a special manuscript website portal was launched along with short videos, CCRAS publications and films on the occasion. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Mahavir Jaipuriya Hospital and National Institute of Ayurveda for research in patient care. The event was also attended by students of Ayurveda from 15 countries. The other guests present at the event were Advisor to AYUSH, Vaidya Shri Manoj Nesari, Special Secretary Pramod Kumar Pathak along with DGs and head of institutes of AYUSH ministry. Read More► Ministry of Ayush to Release Videos, Short Film, Booklet on Benefits of Ayurveda-Based Nutritious Diet

<br>All security personnel, who have been engaged in Covid-19 duty from January 2020, have rendered indomitable service to the people of the country wherein more than 85,000 Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel were infected with the virus and 333 personnel succumbed to it, an official said.According to the data published by the Central government on July 26 this year, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) lost 127 personnel while 90 Border Security Force (BSF) troopers died due to the Covid-19 infection.Similarly, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) lost 76, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) 20, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) 17, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) two and National Security Guard (NSG) lost one of its personnel.There were 203 casualties of CAPF troopers till March 23, 2021, during the first wave of the pandemic whereas during second wave in March-April this year, a total of 130 personnel lost their lives due to the Covid-19 infection.The CAPF was also instrumental in setting up various Covid-19 hospitals and care centres, and also rendered medical services with housing and food free of cost.The border guarding force ITBP was assigned by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to set up the first isolation centre at south-west Delhi's Chhawla area. It houses ITBP sector headquarters and was made in just 48 hours prior to arrival of the first batch from Wuhan in China.The 600-bed facility in Delhi to quarantine and provide basic medical care to those suspected to have been affected by Covid-19 infection. This centre received and managed the first batch of 406 people taken from Wuhan in China on February 1 and 2 last year who were discharged after testing Covid negative.The ITBP quarantine facility at Chhawla housed another batch of 112 people on February 27, 2020. These people reached Delhi from Wuhan in China which included 76 Indians and 36 foreign nationals, including eight families and five children. The group of foreign nationals includes 23 from Bangladesh, six from China, two each from Myanmar and Maldives, and one each from Madagascar, South Africa and the US.Special arrangements have been made to host children and women at the facility, an unoccupied residential unit for ITBP personnel.The centre was credited to have successfully quarantined 518 people -- (biggest number at any single quarantine centre in the country till now) who were taken from Wuhan in China.With rising number of Covid-19 cases in Delhi and the National Capital Region, the ITBP was again assigned to manage Asia's largest makeshift Covid care hospital and care centre in South Delhi's Chhatarpur area at Radha Soami Satsang and treat huge numbers of Covid-19 patients. This centre was opened on July 5, 2020 and apart from ITBP, doctors and paramedics from other CAPFs such as BSF and CRPF were roped in providing medical aid to the admitted patients.The 10,000-bed Sardar Patel COVID Care Centre (SPCCC), one of the "largest" such facilities in the world, at the Radha Soami Satsang played a crucial role in the fight against the pandemic. Official data said that the centre was closed on February 23 this year following continuous decline in the number of Covid positive cases in the National Capital Territory of Delhi vis-a-vis adequate availability of medical facilities. This Centre had treated 11,657 Covid patients since its opening last year.While a Covid care centre with 90 beds has been reactivated by the force at the CAPFs referral hospital in Greater Noida, another centre with 200-beds has been started at the ITBP camp in Chhawla where the first batch of Indians and some foreigners returning from Wuhan in China were quarantined last year after the pandemic broke out.A third such facility of 50-60 beds was also set up by the ITBP at its composite hospital in Chandigarh.During the advent of the second wave of Covid-19 in March-April 2021, the SPCCC at Chhatarpur in Delhi was reopened with 500 oxygen beds and ITBP has been again entrusted to run it. As many as 500 oxygen beds and the ITBP was asked to draw the required medical manpower (doctors and paramedics), if needed from other CAPFs.The doctors and paramedics of the CAPF were also part of the other Covid Care hospitals in various parts of the country, including the hospitals run by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in Delhi Cantt and Ahmedabad Covid Care centres provided much needed service to the citizens of the country, said a senior official.Police Commemoration Day is observed every year on October 21 in the memory of security personnel for their supreme sacrifice while performing duties.--IANS<br>ams/khz/pgh