Keralam considering sites in Thrissur, Kasaragod for proposed All-India Institute of Ayurveda

The Keralam government is contemplating establishing an All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in Thrissur and Kasaragod districts under the Ayush Ministry, according to Health department sources. A draft proposal has been forwarded to the Centre. Over 200 acres of land near Athirappilly in Vettilappara Grama Panchayat, Thrissur, and Cheemeni Grama Panchayat, Neeleswaram block in Kasaragod, have been identified for the site.

The Thrissur land is owned by the Ex-Servicemen Cooperative Colony, while the Kasaragod land is owned by the Plantation Corporation of India. The Ayush Ministry had communicated a letter to the State in June regarding site selection. The Centre aims to set up three such institutes nationwide, with plans to expand high-quality education, research, and tertiary care services.

Funds were allocated in the 2026-27 Union Budget for this purpose. Currently, only one AIIA exists, located in New Delhi. AMMOI had previously urged Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan to facilitate the institute's relocation to Keralam. D. Ramanathan, general secretary of AMMOI, notes that Keralam boasts 18 Ayurveda colleges, approximately 660 manufacturing units, service sector units with over 2,000 beds, medicinal plant cultivation ventures, and export units.

However, the state lacks sufficient peer-reviewed journals and citations for research-oriented work. Ramanathan emphasizes the need for practical collaboration between academics, research, and the manufacturing industry. Setting up an AIIA would also enhance tourism prospects, as numerous foreigners visit Keralam for Ayurvedic treatment.