Major Boost to Ayush services, NAM gains 60 per cent increase in budget 2022

Ayush Ministry’s budget allocation stands up at Rs 3050 Cr, 4-fold increase over 7 years

Cost-effective Ayush services under the National Ayush Mission (NAM) have gotten a major boost in the Union Budget 2022 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman. The total allocation of budget to Ayush Ministry in the last 7 years has increased over four times from 691 Cr to Rs 3050 Cr.

Recognizing the importance of the traditional medicine system of India including Yoga and Naturopathy in the current pandemic led situation, the central government has been emphasizing the augmentation of works done by the Ayush Ministry. In the present budget, this is reflected in the increase of budget provisions in various Ayush sectors and core areas. Increasing the Budget amount, under NAM, a Centre sponsored scheme, up to Rs 800 Crore will help Ayush in the upgradation of its hospitals and dispensaries, support the cultivation of medicinal plants and in many other areas including an increase in export of value-added items of medicinal plants. The NAM had earlier received a budget of Rs 500 Cr.

Another area that saw a big boost is Champion service Sector Scheme. The budget has been doubled in this scheme that is from Rs 29.6 Cr to Rs 60.22 Cr.

All the states (Rs 610 Cr), union territories (Rs 70 Cr) and Northeastern areas (Rs 181.97 Cr) have also witnessed an increase in grants-in-aid i.e from Rs 547.87 Cr to Rs 861.97 Cr overall. Growing popularity and dependency on the digital space, the central Government emphasized building the Digi-infrastructure which Ayush has well supported. The various provisions under the budget will see a major step towards digitizing the entire Ayush sector under Ayush-grid.

Considering the strength of Ayurveda, Yoga, and another traditional Indian system of medicine, the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM-WHO) in India is being set up and the budgetary provisions have been done for the establishment of the centre. The establishment of WHO (GCTM) in India will directly affect investment in the traditional medicine sector in India and India can emerge as a global leader with concerted efforts. The research councils, centre of excellence and autonomous bodies also got a fair boost in the budget as they were allotted Rs 1870.1 Cr.

Disclaimer : This is an official press release by PIB.