Lok Sabha Question No. 2009 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-12
Subject: Significance of AYUSH in boosting Immunity
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Kirti Vardhan Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH)

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 2009 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH February, 2021

## SIGNIFICANCE OF AYUS H IN BOOSTING IMMUNI TY

## 2009. SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of AYURVEDA,  YOGA  AND NATUROPATHY,  UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the importance of AYUSH in view of need to improveimmunity of every individual; and
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  steps taken  to  propagate  AYUSH  among  the public?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS AND ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF MINI STER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a) & (b): Yes, the Government has taken note of the importance of AYUSH in view of n to improve immunity of every individual. Ministry of AYUSH has undertaken following st propagate AYUSH among the public during COVID- 19 outbreak :
- (I) Ministry of AYUSH issu ed an advisory on 29.01.2020 on how to protect oneself from COVI and how to stay healthy. Ministry has written a letter on 06.03.2020 to all Chief S States / Union territories with more specific suggestions on augmentation of General I of people and about possible AYUSH intervention. Ministry has also issued self - care guidelines on 31.03.2020  for  preventive  health  measures  and  boosting  immunity  with  special  refer respiratory health.
- (II)  Considering  the  importance  of  immunity  boo sting  measures  in  the  wake  of  COVID - 19 outbreak, Ministry of AYUSH has promoted use of ready -made Ayush formulation i.e. 'Ayush Kwath'(Ayurveda) or 'Ayush Kudineer'(Siddha) or 'Ayush Joshanda' (Unani) in the interest of health promotion to the masses.

(III)    The  Ministry of  AYUSH has released 'National Clinical Management Protocol based on Ayurveda and Yoga for management of COVID -19' prepared by National Task force which in consensus from expert committees from All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), D lhi,  nstitute of Post Graduate Training and Research in Ayurved (IPGTRA), Jamnagar, and National Instit Ayurveda (NIA), Jaipur , Central Council for Research in Ayurveda (CCRAS), Central Co for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN) and othe r national research organizations as pe the Report & Recommendations of the Interdisciplinary Committee wherein guidelines fo -covid care have been mentioned.  This protocol is based on:

- i. Knowledge from   Ayurveda   literature and clinical experie nce
- ii. Empirical evidences and Biological plausibility
- iii. Emerging trends of ongoing clinical studies

The  salient  features  of  this  protocol  include  management  of  prophylactic,  Asymp Mild and Moderate cases of COVID - 19 along with of post - management.

Ministry  of  AYUSH  had  launched  a  three -month  campaign  called  'AYUSH  for Immunity' that aimed to increase awareness among the masses, regarding the effective home care solutions and recommended AYUSH practices, to help them to enhance their im munity. During the entire campaign, series of events, such as social media contests, online discourse seminars  were  carried  out,  which  further  increased  the  reach  of  Ministry  of  AYUSH various  sections  of  the  society,  within  India  and  abr oad.  The  interest  in  traditional  and  non -conventional systems of healthcare recognized by the Government of India increased du COVID - 19  pandemic.  The  key  objective  of  the  campaign  was  to  acquaint  the  people information  about  the  strengths  of  v arious  AYUSH- based  solutions  for  enhancing  healthy lifestyle and preventing the occurrence of diseases. It was a theme - based campaign, covering the Aahara, Vihaara, and Nidra themes, for the months of September, October, and November respectively.  Var ious  outreach  activities  were  conducted  by  different  institutions,  f awareness.  The  Ministry  of  AYUSH  had  organized  a  formal  inaugural  event  for  AYUSH Immunity  campaign,  on  the  14th  of  August  2020,  on  its  AYUSH  Virtual  Convention  Cen (AVCC) platform.

The  Ministry  of  AYUSH  has  been  implementing  Central  Sector  Scheme  for Information, Education and communication (IEC) with following components for adequate dissemination of information throughout the Country;

- i. Organization of Arogya Fairs both at the National and State Level;
- ii. Organization of Ayurveda Parv and Yoga Fest/Utsav etc.
- iii. Participation inHealthFairs/ Melas/Exhibitions organized by Government Departmen ts, State Governments and other reputed AYUSH Organizations;
- iv. Preparation and  distribution  of  authentic  Publicity  material  on  AYUSH  Systems including Multi - media/print media campaigns and platforms, audio visual materials forpopularization fAYUSH Systems;
- v. Activities and programmes undertaken by the Ministry and its autonomou s bodies to achieve  the  objectives  listed  at  2  above.  This  would  include  activities  taken connection with the observation of designated 'Days' of the different AYUSH systems, like  the  International  Day  of  Yoga,  Ayurveda  Day,  mega  event  namely  Ayush C onclave as flagship programme for conducting annually for general public and ot stakeholder in the field of Ayush.
- vi. Providing  financial  assistance  t o  reputed  organizations,  AYUSH  specific  NGOs, educational/  research  institutes  for  organizing  Seminars, Conferences,  Symposiums, Workshop, meeting, etc. on AYUSH Systems.
- vii. Providing incentives to AYUSH Industry to participate in National and State Aro Fairs/  Melas  organized  by  Central/  State  Governments/  Government  organizations reputed organizations like Chemexil, Pharmexcil, CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, ITPO etc. at State/ National level.
- viii. Conductingvirtual webinars / exhibitions on Ayush related topics.
- ix. Media campaign through social media.