Outreach Activities

Outreach Activities at RARIM&MMR Goa

The Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Mineral and Marine Medicinal Resources (RARIM&MMR), Goa, under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, actively engages in outreach activities to promote Ayurvedic awareness, preventive healthcare, and community education. Established in 2022 with its Ayurveda OPD commencing on December 15, 2022, and inaugurated on July 14, 2023, the institute’s outreach efforts focus on mineral and marine medicinal resources, integrating them with public health initiatives in Goa’s coastal communities. These activities align with CCRAS’s broader mandate for public engagement, including awareness programs, workshops, and collaborations to disseminate Ayurvedic knowledge and promote holistic wellness.

Core Objectives of Outreach

– Raise awareness about Ayurvedic principles, particularly the therapeutic potential of mineral and marine resources (e.g., seaweed-based remedies, herbo-mineral formulations).

– Provide free or subsidized consultations, yoga sessions, and dietary advice to underserved populations.

– Foster community participation in preventive health measures, such as Prakruti (constitutional) assessment and lifestyle modifications.

– Collaborate with local bodies to address region-specific health issues like geriatric care, stress management, and nutritional deficiencies using marine-mineral integrations.

Key Outreach Activities

RARIM&MMR Goa’s outreach is conducted through its OPD (9:30 AM to 4:30 PM on working days) and special programs, often in partnership with local health departments, NGOs, and CCRAS headquarters. As of September 2025, the institute has participated in several initiatives, building on its 6 core services (clinical care, Prakruti assessment, yoga awareness, geriatric consultations, medicinal plant information, and library access). Notable activities include:

Awareness Camps and Workshops:

– Regular health awareness camps in Ribandar and surrounding areas, focusing on Ayurvedic management of common ailments using marine resources (e.g., workshops on seaweed for skin and joint health).

– Yoga and lifestyle sessions integrated with dietary advice on mineral-rich coastal foods, held monthly at the institute and community centers.

– Participation in national events like Ayurveda Day (October 2024) and International Yoga Day (June 2025), with free screening camps for over 200 participants.

Community Health Programs:

– Special outreach for geriatric patients, including home visits and group sessions on preventive care using herbo-mineral formulations like Yograj Guggulu.

– Collaboration with the National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, for eco-health programs educating fisherfolk on marine medicinal plants and their sustainable use.

– Free OPD consultations extended to rural outreach in nearby villages, emphasizing neuropsychiatric health (led by Dr. Hemant Kumar Gupta) and Prakruti-based personalized advice.

Educational Initiatives:

– Seminars and lectures on medicinal plants and their usages, drawing from the institute’s reference library (912 books/journals) to highlight Goan-specific marine-mineral resources.

– Integration with school and college programs, such as awareness drives on yoga for stress reduction among students, in line with CCRAS’s youth engagement.

– Virtual webinars and social media campaigns (via CCRAS platforms) on Ayurvedic preventive measures during monsoon seasons to combat vector-borne diseases.

Collaborative and Extension Activities:

– MoU with Datta Meghe Ayurveda College, Hospitals and Research Centre, Maharashtra, for outreach in Shalakyatantra (ENT/Ophthalmology), including community eye/ear health camps using mineral therapies.

– Participation in CCRAS-wide initiatives like the Medico-Ethno-Botanical Survey (MEBS) extensions to coastal Goa, documenting and sharing local knowledge on marine remedies.

– Support for national campaigns, such as AYUSH packages under the National Health Mission, providing outreach on anemia management with mineral-based drugs (e.g., Dhatri Louha).

Impact and Metrics

– Patient Reach: The OPD has served thousands of patients since inception, with outreach camps reaching 500+ individuals annually, special focus being on vulnerable groups like the elderly and coastal workers.

– Personnel Involvement: Led by Research Officer In-Charge Supported by pharmacist and MTA.

Active involvement of all technical officers under R.O I/C has helped to conduct various camps regarding Mental Health awareness, Geriatrics and camps at School, Anganwadi etc. supported by pharmacist & supporting staff.

In association with the THRCP project of CARI, Bangalore this institute has actively participated in Survey and medical camps in tribal population in various districts of Goa.

– Accreditation Alignment: NABH AYUSH entry-level hospital status (April 8, 2025 – April 7, 2027) ensures quality in outreach services, with feedback mechanisms for community impact assessment.

Future Plans

Institute is planning to expand outreach activity by signing MoU with ICAR by establishing satellite OPD.

Institute is planning MoU with 05 Ayurveda Colleges in and out of state for collaborative project on “A Cross-sectional Survey to study the distribution pattern of different prakriti types across India- A multi centric Study”.

Outreach Activities

Outreach Activities at RARIM&MMR Goa

Core Objectives of Outreach

– Raise awareness about Ayurvedic principles, particularly the therapeutic potential of mineral and marine resources (e.g., seaweed-based remedies, herbo-mineral formulations).

– Provide free or subsidized consultations, yoga sessions, and dietary advice to underserved populations.

– Foster community participation in preventive health measures, such as Prakruti (constitutional) assessment and lifestyle modifications.

– Collaborate with local bodies to address region-specific health issues like geriatric care, stress management, and nutritional deficiencies using marine-mineral integrations.

Key Outreach Activities

Awareness Camps and Workshops:

– Regular health awareness camps in Ribandar and surrounding areas, focusing on Ayurvedic management of common ailments using marine resources (e.g., workshops on seaweed for skin and joint health).

– Yoga and lifestyle sessions integrated with dietary advice on mineral-rich coastal foods, held monthly at the institute and community centers.

– Participation in national events like Ayurveda Day (October 2024) and International Yoga Day (June 2025), with free screening camps for over 200 participants.

Community Health Programs:

– Special outreach for geriatric patients, including home visits and group sessions on preventive care using herbo-mineral formulations like Yograj Guggulu.

– Collaboration with the National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, for eco-health programs educating fisherfolk on marine medicinal plants and their sustainable use.

– Free OPD consultations extended to rural outreach in nearby villages, emphasizing neuropsychiatric health (led by Dr. Hemant Kumar Gupta) and Prakruti-based personalized advice.

Educational Initiatives:

– Seminars and lectures on medicinal plants and their usages, drawing from the institute’s reference library (912 books/journals) to highlight Goan-specific marine-mineral resources.

– Integration with school and college programs, such as awareness drives on yoga for stress reduction among students, in line with CCRAS’s youth engagement.

– Virtual webinars and social media campaigns (via CCRAS platforms) on Ayurvedic preventive measures during monsoon seasons to combat vector-borne diseases.

Collaborative and Extension Activities:

– MoU with Datta Meghe Ayurveda College, Hospitals and Research Centre, Maharashtra, for outreach in Shalakyatantra (ENT/Ophthalmology), including community eye/ear health camps using mineral therapies.

– Participation in CCRAS-wide initiatives like the Medico-Ethno-Botanical Survey (MEBS) extensions to coastal Goa, documenting and sharing local knowledge on marine remedies.

– Support for national campaigns, such as AYUSH packages under the National Health Mission, providing outreach on anemia management with mineral-based drugs (e.g., Dhatri Louha).

Impact and Metrics

– Patient Reach: The OPD has served thousands of patients since inception, with outreach camps reaching 500+ individuals annually, special focus being on vulnerable groups like the elderly and coastal workers.

– Personnel Involvement: Led by Research Officer In-Charge Supported by pharmacist and MTA.

Active involvement of all technical officers under R.O I/C has helped to conduct various camps regarding Mental Health awareness, Geriatrics and camps at School, Anganwadi etc. supported by pharmacist & supporting staff.

In association with the THRCP project of CARI, Bangalore this institute has actively participated in Survey and medical camps in tribal population in various districts of Goa.

– Accreditation Alignment: NABH AYUSH entry-level hospital status (April 8, 2025 – April 7, 2027) ensures quality in outreach services, with feedback mechanisms for community impact assessment.

Future Plans

Institute is planning to expand outreach activity by signing MoU with ICAR by establishing satellite OPD.

Institute is planning MoU with 05 Ayurveda Colleges in and out of state for collaborative project on “A Cross-sectional Survey to study the distribution pattern of different prakriti types across India- A multi centric Study”.