Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Dr Mohan Yadav on Wednesday laid emphasis on strengthening Ayurveda and AYUSH healthcare, while indicating that the government could soon consider a demand to increase the stipend paid to AYUSH interns.

CM Dr Yadav was speaking at a state-level programme organised at Pandit Khushilal Sharma Government Autonomous Ayurved College and Institute on the occasion of the 11th National Ayurveda Day. He inaugurated the event by lighting a ceremonial lamp and later opened an exhibition by cutting a ribbon.

The Chief Minister visited various stalls set up by the AYUSH Department and took information about activities related to Ayurveda and other AYUSH systems of medicine.

25 New AYUSH facilities Inaugurated

During the programme, CM Dr Yadav inaugurated and performed bhoomi pujan for 25 new AYUSH hospitals, dispensaries and college buildings constructed or planned at a total cost of Rs 185.50 crore.

The projects include 12 AYUSH buildings as well as the inauguration of a college in Dindori district, built at a cost of Rs 102 crore.

The Chief Minister also unveiled the names of AYUSH wellness tourism centres. These facilities will now be known as AYUSH Arogyam Dham. He also inaugurated public access to the Herbal Garden of State Importance established at Pandit Khushilal College.

‘Yoga and Ayurveda re-established’

Addressing the gathering, CM Dr Yadav said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, significant efforts had been made to restore the prominence of yoga and Ayurveda.

He said Ayurveda had been an integral part of Indian culture and lifestyle for centuries, adding that even spices commonly used in Indian kitchens have traditionally been associated with Ayurvedic practices.

CM Dr Yadav also highlighted the importance of September 23, saying calculations according to Khalog Shastra indicate that day and night are of equal duration on the date. He said this was among the reasons behind the initiative to observe National Ayurveda Day.

He drew a parallel with International Yoga Day, observed on June 21, saying programmes are organised in more than 200 countries on the occasion.

Focus on wellness and preventive healthcare

CM Dr Yadav said Indian cultural traditions and Vedic knowledge embody the ideals of Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam; wishing for the happiness and well-being of all and viewing the world as one family.

He said Ayurveda places emphasis not only on treating illnesses but also on maintaining health before disease occurs. The Chief Minister urged people to focus on their daily routines and dietary habits and adopt lifestyles based on yoga and Ayurveda.

Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, CM Dr Yadav said people had witnessed the importance of Ayurveda during the period.

AYUSH budget rises 16-fold

CM Dr Yadav said Madhya Pradesh's first Ayurvedic building was established in Gwalior in 1916, followed by three facilities in Jabalpur, Indore and Ujjain in 1972. Facilities were subsequently established in Burhanpur, while the Pandit Khushilal College was established in Bhopal in 1995.

He said his government had initiated the establishment of nine new Ayurvedic colleges in the state. According to CM Dr Yadav, the state government's AYUSH Department budget has increased 16-fold compared with 2002-03.

Wellness centres have also been opened at major tourist destinations, with the government seeking to promote AYUSH systems through tourism.

CM Dr Yadav said the global AYUSH market, which was worth around $3 billion in 2014, had now reached $43 billion. He also referred to the unveiling of a statue of Maharshi Charak, regarded as a pioneer of Ayurvedic medicine, in Scotland earlier this year.

AYUSH education expanding

Higher Education and AYUSH Minister Inder Singh Parmar said Ayurveda would have a distinct place in the future of Indian medicine. Parmar said the state had seven Ayurvedic colleges and two colleges offering homoeopathy and Unani systems up to 2023. Construction of eight new Ayurvedic colleges is currently under way, while the Union Government has approved another Ayurvedic college.

Once these institutions become operational, a total of 18 colleges under the AYUSH Department covering the three systems of medicine will be functioning in Madhya Pradesh.

More than 1,700 Ayurvedic dispensaries are currently operating across the state, while yoga classes have also been introduced for the public.

Parmar said Ayurvedic medicines were also being distributed for the treatment of sickle-cell disease. He further said the stipend given to AYUSH interns needed to be increased on a par with that received by medical students.