New Delhi, June 10: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha MP and national spokesperson Sasmit Patra has urged the Centre to establish an All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in Odisha's Mayurbhanj, proposing the district as a suitable location for Eastern India's first premier Ayurveda institution.
Patra met Prataprao Jadhav in New Delhi on Tuesday and submitted a detailed memorandum seeking the establishment of the institute under the Ministry of AYUSH.
In his representation, the BJD leader pointed out that despite Odisha's rich tribal heritage, biodiversity, medicinal plant resources and contributions to traditional healthcare practices, the state lacks a premier national Ayurveda institution on the lines of the existing AIIAs in Delhi and Goa, the National Institute of Ayurveda in Jaipur, and the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda in Jamnagar.
Patra argued that setting up an AIIA in Mayurbhanj would bridge a significant institutional gap in Eastern India while serving as a centre of excellence for Ayurveda education, healthcare, research and innovation. The proposed institute, he said, would cater to the healthcare and educational needs of people across Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar and other neighbouring regions.
Highlighting the district's strengths, Patra noted that Mayurbhanj is home to the renowned Similipal Biosphere Reserve, one of India's richest biodiversity hotspots. The region's abundant medicinal plant wealth, he said, provides a strong foundation for advanced research, conservation and academic programmes in Ayurveda.
The MP also clarified that while Odisha already hosts the Central Ayurveda Research Institute, its role is largely focused on research. An AIIA, he said, would offer a broader institutional framework encompassing healthcare services, medical education, research and community outreach, thereby complementing rather than duplicating the existing AYUSH infrastructure in the state.
Speaking after the meeting, Patra said Eastern India deserves a premier national Ayurveda institution and emphasized that Mayurbhanj's biodiversity, strategic location and developmental potential make it an ideal destination for such a project. He added that the institute would not only strengthen healthcare and education but also contribute to India's growing global stature in Ayurveda and traditional medicine.
According to the proposal, the envisioned AIIA at Mayurbhanj would provide advanced healthcare facilities, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, doctoral research opportunities, medicinal plant science studies, skill development initiatives and extensive community outreach services.
Patra expressed hope that the Ministry of AYUSH would positively consider the proposal in the interest of balanced regional development, improved healthcare accessibility and the promotion of India's traditional knowledge systems.
Key Features of the Proposal
