Breaking systemic marginalisation, 25 tribal women from below poverty line (BPL) families in Wayanad graduated as certified Ayur Nurses on Friday. The entire graduating cohort secured formal job placements, several weeks before completing their final examinations, from reputed Ayurveda and AYUSH hospitals based in Bengaluru.
These women received an intensive six-month training at the Ayurveda Nursing Training Institute in Meenangadi, located in Kerala’s Wayanad district, a facility fully funded by the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) wing of ZEISS India, a Bengalauru-based India subsidiary of the 178-year-old German optics technology and instruments major Carl Zeiss. The on-the-ground execution was managed by Bharat Shodh, a non-governmental organisation.
“Empowering communities has always remained at the heart of our purpose, and this initiative reflects that commitment,” said Dhaval Radia, chief financial officer of ZEISS India.
The graduating group was selected following a rigorous screening of over 100 applicants from 13 distinct tribal villages across Wayanad. The comprehensive curriculum featured three months of theoretical classroom instruction followed by three months of clinical practical application in Ayurveda Panchakarma therapies and hands-on hospital internships. Trainees also completed specialised modules covering personal hygiene, professional grooming, etiquette, public speaking, and language proficiency in English, Hindi, and Kannada.
Swami Padmaprakasha Jnanathapaswi, chairperson of Bharat Shodh, said the initative had effectively bridged the gap between traditional knowledge and the increasing demand for alternative healthcare practices, including geriatric and postnatal care, in southern cities like Bengaluru.
Multiple ayurvedic hospitals and wellness clinics from Bengaluru, Chennai, and Wayanad were at the campus recruitment cycle, ensuring all 25 trainees secured employment ahead of graduation.
Aswathy Narayanan, a 21-year-old who graduated as Ayur Nurse, said, “In my village, most girls marry after the 10th grade, but I kept fighting and managed to complete my 12th standard. I thought that was the end of the road, although I dreamed of a good education and a job.”
She said the training had changed her life. “This programme has given me more than just knowledge about traditional healthcare; it has given me a new life, a voice, and a bold personality. I also learned how to manage conversations in English, Hindi, and Kannada,” she said.
To further streamline employment opportunities, the partnership between ZEISS India and Bharat Shodh is currently developing “Ayur Nurses”, a mobile application designed to seamlessly link certified graduates with verified, reputable ayurvedic healthcare providers across the country.