Parliament Question: Promotion of Ayurveda in West Bengal

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2366 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2026 “Promotion of Ayurveda in West Bengal”

2366. Shri Saumitra Khan:

Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the efforts being made/proposed to be made by the Government to promote Ayurveda and other systems of AYUSH in West Bengal;

(b) the details of the total number of institutes and training centres related to Yoga, Naturopathy and Unani that are functional in West Bengal, district-wise;

(c) whether the Government proposes to set up more such institutes and training centres in the State during the current financial year;

(d) if so, the details thereof, district-wise and Stream-wise;

(e) whether opening of AYUSH hospitals in various districts of West Bengal has been pending for a long time; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) The Government through its various initiatives has been able to promote Ayurveda and other systems of AYUSH in the Country including in the State of West Bengal. With the view to fulfil the mandate of propagation of Ayush System of Healthcare, Ministry of Ayush implements a Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of Information Education and Communication (IEC) in Ayush. This aims to reach out to all sections of the population across the country including in the State of West Bengal. Under this Scheme, Ministry organises National/ State level Arogya Fairs, Yoga Fests/ Utsavs, Ayurveda Parvs, celebrate important days of Ayush system, 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 regarding Ayush system of health care.

Besides, Ministry of Ayush is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the National Ayush Mission (NAM) through State/UT Governments, including West Bengal, for the overall 1development and promotion of Ayurveda and other systems of Ayush. NAM inter alia, makes provision of financial assistance to States/UTs for the following major activities, subject to the condition that proposals are required to be submitted through State Annual Action Plans

(SAAPs) as per the provision of NAM guidelines:

(i) Operationalization of Ayush Health & Wellness Centres (AHWCs), now renamed as Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush);

(ii) Co-location of Ayush facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs);

(iii) Upgradation of existing standalone Government Ayush Hospitals;

(iv) Upgradation of existing Government / Panchayat / Government-aided Ayush Dispensaries, including construction of buildings for existing Ayush Dispensaries operating from rented or dilapidated accommodations, and construction of buildings to establish new Ayush Dispensaries;

(v) Setting up of 10-, 30- and 50-bedded Integrated Ayush Hospitals;

(vi) Supply of essential drugs to Government Ayush Hospitals, Government Dispensaries and Government / Government-aided Teaching Institutional Ayush Hospitals;

(vii) Implementation of Ayush Public Health Programmes;

(viii) Establishment of new Ayush colleges in States where the availability of Ayush teaching institutions is inadequate in the Government sector; and

(ix) Infrastructural development of Ayush Undergraduate and Postgraduate Institutions, including add-on PG, Pharmacy and Para- Medical courses.

(b) to (f) Public health being a state subject, the opening of institutes, training centres related to Yoga, Naturopathy and Unani and Ayush hospitals in various districts of West Bengal come under the purview of the respective State Government. However, under NAM, as per the proposals received from the State Govt. of West Bengal through SAAPs, 02 units of 50- bedded Integrated Ayush Hospitals have been approved in the District of Alipurduar and Midnapur, respectively.

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