Rs 279 Crore Ayush Aid, Yet Only One Yoga Centre in Jharkhand

Over an eleven-year period, Jharkhand was allocated approximately Rs 279 crore in central assistance aimed at strengthening its traditional healthcare systems. This funding, provided under the National Ayush Mission (NAM) from 2014-15 to 2024-25, was intended for various improvements, including establishing health centers and upgrading existing facilities.

Despite this significant financial support, the state government's reported infrastructure includes only a single government yoga center in Ranchi and a Unani medical college and hospital in Giridih. Information presented to the Union ministry of Ayush revealed no additional government institutions for yoga or Unani medicine were established during this timeframe.

The lack of visible infrastructure development corresponding to the sanctioned funds has raised concerns. A Member of Parliament highlighted that many in Jharkhand, particularly in rural and tribal areas, depend on traditional medicine. The absence of detailed data on fund utilization, deployed personnel, and beneficiaries further complicates the evaluation of the central government's assistance.