Popularization of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy

Popularization of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy

With a view to fulfil the mandate of promotion and propagation of Ayush Systems of medicine at National level, the Ministry implements a Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of Information Education and Communication (IEC) in Ayush. Under this Scheme, Ministry organises National/State level Arogya Fairs, Yoga Fests / Utsavs, Ayurveda Parvs, celebrate important days of Ayush systems, participate in health fairs/melas, exhibitions etc, provide financial assistance for organising seminars, workshops, conferences and conduct multimedia campaigns etc. to create awareness among citizens.

Further, the Ministry of Ayush has developed the Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of International Co-operation in Ayush (IC Scheme) for generation of awareness about Ayush systems of medicine in International arena. Under this Scheme, the Ministry provides support to Indian Ayush drug manufacturers / Ayush service providers to give boost to the export of Ayush products and services; facilitates the International promotion, development and recognition of Ayush systems of medicine; foster interaction of stakeholders and market development of Ayush at international level; promote academics and research through the establishment of Ayush Academic Chairs in foreign countries and holding training workshop/symposiums for promoting and strengthening awareness and interest about Ayush systems of medicine at international level. Under this scheme, 25 Country to Country

Memorandum of Understanding(s) (MoUs), 15 Ayush Chair MoUs and 52 Institute to Institute level MoUs have been signed.

Besides, the Ministry is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) through State/UT Governments for development & promotion of Ayush systems of medicine. State/UT Governments may avail financial assistance by submitting proposals through State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) as per NAM guidelines.

The Ministry of Ayush has been celebrating Ayurveda Day annually since 2016 to promote, propagate, and popularize Ayurveda. The Ministry selects a specific theme each year for the celebration of Ayurveda Day and various activities are organized by stakeholders across the country and globally, aligned with the chosen theme. The Ministry also instituted the National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Award, comprising a citation, trophy (Dhanwantari statue), and a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, to be conferred on Ayurveda Day to eminent Vaidyas and Ayurveda experts in recognition of excellence and to encourage best practices in the field.

At the initiative of Hon’ble Prime Minister, the United Nations General Assembly took a historic decision in 2014 to declare 21st June as the International Day of Yoga. The Ministry of Ayush is the nodal Ministry for observation of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) every year. IDY observation is focused on a Mass Yoga demonstration based on Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) which is publicly available on the Yoga Portal (yoga.ayush.gov.in). Considering the need of Yoga enthusiasts worldwide, the Ministry has developed Yoga Break (Y-Break) mobile application. This app is especially designed for persons at work place so as to keep them stay fit and healthy with a view to increase productivity.

The Ministry of Ayush and World Health Organization (WHO) had jointly undertaken a project, named, m-Yoga in the year 2019. This envisages the concept of the ‘Be Healthy, Be Mobile’ (BHBM) under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030.The m-Yoga mobile App was launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on June 21, 2021 on the occasion of International Day of Yoga-2021.

Moreover, for the purpose of promotion of Ayurveda and Yoga & Naturopathy, Ministry of Ayush has established 02 (two) Research Councils [Central Council for Research and Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) and (Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy) CCRYN] and 9 (nine) National Institutes, as per details at Annexure-I. These Councils / Institutions alongwith their peripheral institutes/units/centres are providing treatment through General Outpatient Department (OPD), Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) OPD, Geriatric OPD, Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Clinic etc. and also engaged in awareness activities to popularize Ayurveda and Yoga & Naturopathy. The details of activities to popularize Ayurveda and Yoga & Naturopathy by Research Councils and National Institutions under the Ministry are mentioned at Annexure-II and Annexure-III respectively.

In Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) there are 111 Ayush Wellness Centres (including 44 Ayurvedic Wellness Centres) across the country and 01 Ayurvedic Hospital at Aliganj Lodhi Road, New Delhi. Further, 26 Ayurvedic Units have also been sanctioned.

As of now, 35 Private Ayush Day Care Therapy Centres are empanelled under CGHS Delhi/NCR only. Currently the empanelment of Private Ayush Day Care Centres is limited to Delhi/NCR.

Annexure-I

Details of Research Councils and National Institutes Functioning under the Ministry of Ayush

 

Research Councils:

Sl. No.

Name of Research Council

1

Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)

2

Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN)

 

National Institutes:

 

Sl. No.

Name of Institute

1

National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA)

2

All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)

3

Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth (RAV), Delhi

4

Institute of Teaching & Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar

5

Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), New Delhi

6

National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN), Pune

7

National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR), Leh

8

North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy (NEIAH), Shillong

9

North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR), Pasighat

 

Annexure-II

Activities to promote Ayush by Research Councils

CCRAS has been engaged in popularizing Ayurveda among the masses through electronic and print media for common people in English, Hindi, and regional languages, which are widely distributed through National/State level Arogya Melas, Health camps, exhibitions, expos, etc., and also through CCRAS outreach programs viz. Schedule Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) Research Program, Tribal Health Care Research Program (THCRP), etc., in different states of the country through its robust 30 peripheral institutes. The Council’s website is also generally embodied with IEC materials and hyperlinked with other important websites that provide information for wider utility.

The Council has three journals named Journal of Drug Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (JDRAS), Journal of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (JRAS), and Journal of Indian Medical Heritage (JIMH) which is also available electronically in the public domain free of cost to enable dissemination of the outcomes of research among the public. The CCRAS is also publishing CCRAS Bulletin quarterly for the dissemination of Research outcomes in common languages for the general public. So far, the Council has published multiple books, monographs, and technical reports, and they are being sold or distributed to disseminate research outcomes and merits of Ayurveda at large.

 

Annexure-III

 Details of activities to promote and popularize Ayurveda and Yoga & Naturopathy by National Institutes

 

 

 

 

 

It has undertaken 6 Public Health Initiative projects and served as a COVID Health Center. AIIA has signed 82 MoUs worldwide and provides services through satellite centers in Goa, and extensions at LBSNAA Mussoorie (Uttarakhand), Ektanagar (Gujarat), VMMC Safdarjung Hospital New Delhi, Supreme Court of India, IIT-Delhi and National Cancer Institute-AIIMS Jhajjar (Haryana).

AIIA is also contributing to the promotion of the Ayurvedic system of medicine through OPD, IPD, 45 specialists clinics, camps, Public Health Initiatives etc.

Publishing three peer reviewed quarterly Journals: Journal of Ayurveda Case Reports (J AyuCaRe), International Journal of Ayurveda Research (IJAR) & Ayush Journal of Integrative Oncology (AJIO).

AIIA has also established Incubation Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (AIIA-iCAINE) for funding and mentoring winners of Smart India Hackathon, facilitating start-ups for product display at exhibitions, mentoring support to Start-ups, creating awareness of entrepreneurship and networking of start-ups

 

 

This information was given by Union Minister of State (I/C) of the Ministry of Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.