Thiruvananthapuram: If to fetch the popularity it deserves, the 5000-year-old Ayurveda should receive legitimate modernization, said Kerala’s minister for health, V.S. Sivakumar. Global Ayurveda Festival that has been organized biennially since 2012 could contribute a lot in making Ayurveda popular. The minister added that in order to obtain public impression and trust for Ayurveda at par with modern medical science, the former needed the inputs of technologies like digitalization and strong scientific research frameworks. He was speaking today (Thursday) after lighting a lamp to mark the State level inauguration of Grand Kerala Ayurveda Fair, a curtain raiser through districts for the impending third Global Ayurveda Festival (GAF 2016) to be held at Kozhikode from 31st January to 4th February.
The function held at Thiruvananthapuram Ayurveda College auditorium was presided over by the college Principal Dr. P.K. Ashok. Chairman, organizing committee of the GAF 2016, Dr. P. Madhavankutty Varier made keynote speech.
Secretary, AYUSH, Dr. M. Beena; Director, Indian System of Medicine, Dr. Anitha Jacob; Director, Ayurveda Medical Education, Dr. T. Sivadas, noted cinematographer, M.J. Radhakrishnan; Corporation Standing Committee Chairman, Vanchiyoor P. Babu; Dr. Sreekumar, Dr. V.G. Udayakumar, Dr. V.K. Ajith Kumar, Dr. Ranjith Anand, Dr. Sharmad Khan, Dr. Baby Krishna, K.B. Baiju, Sreelal, Dr. P.K. Santhakumari, Dr. Uttam Shah, Dr. Abhijith, Dr. Jayamohan Dev, Mohammed Yunus and Dr. Jayan spoke representing various organizations associated to Ayurveda.
In the evening, a road show from Ayurveda Collge to Vellayambalam was flagged off by M.L.A., V. Sivankutty. The road show was conducted by a fleet of decorated vehicles.
As part of the Grand Kerala Ayurveda Fair, a variety of programmes is set for each district in the State from 15th to 28th of January. This includes medical camps, awareness programmes, free medical check-up for women and children, and distribution of medicines either free of cost or with hefty discount in prices. There will be massive efforts to build Ayurveda Gardens and planting of saplings of trees with medicinal value. 
