CHIEF Minister Vishnu Deo Sai met Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah at Kartavya Bhavan in New Delhi on Wednesday and sought the establishment of an All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in the state as part of efforts to develop Chhattisgarh into a national hub for Ayurvedic medicine, research, and higher education. During the meeting, the Chief Minister held detailed discussions on the state’s development, public welfare initiatives, and other contemporary issues. He urged the Union Government to establish an AIIA in Chhattisgarh. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma was also present during the meeting. Sai informed the Union Home Minister that the All India Institutes of Ayurveda currently functioning in New Delhi and Panaji have emerged as centres of excellence in Ayurvedabased healthcare, research, and innovation. These institutions have provided a new direction to healthcare services by integrating modern scientific practices with traditional Ayurvedic knowledge and have produced a large pool of skilled Ayurvedic physicians and researchers. Highlighting Chhattisgarh’s strengths, the Chief Minister said the state is endowed with abundant natural resources and rich medicinal wealth. A large part of the state is covered by forests that are home to numerous rare medicinal plants and herbs. The tribal regions also possess a rich heritage of traditional medicinal knowledge. In this context, he said, the establishment of an AIIA in the state could play a significant role in advancing Ayurvedic medicine and research.

                                     

Sai noted that the institute would provide high-quality healthcare facilities to the people of the state while creating opportunities for higher education, teaching, and research for the youth at a national-level institution. It would also strengthen Ayurveda-based medical education and help Chhattisgarh establish a distinct identity in the fields of healthcare, education, and research. The CM said that the benefits of the proposed institute would extend beyond Chhattisgarh and serve the larger Central Indian region. People from neighbouring states would also gain access to advanced Ayurvedic treatment and research facilities. Referring to the announcement made in Union Budget 2026 regarding the establishment of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda across the country, Sai requested that one of the proposed institutes be allocated to Chhattisgarh. He said such an institute would not only strengthen healthcare services in the state but also provide a boost to employment generation, research activities, and knowledge-based development. The CM apprised the Union Home Minister of the progress of ongoing development projects, infrastructure expansion, and public welfare schemes being implemented in remote areas of the state, including Bastar. Union Home Minister Amit Shah appreciated the efforts being made by Chhattisgarh Government towards development and public welfare and assured all possible support from the Central Government.