Lok Sabha Question No. 4007 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-24
Subject: Implementation of SMART Scheme
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Pradeep Kumar Singh, T.N. Prathapan, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4007 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  MARCH, 2023

## IMPLEMENTATION OF SMART SCHEME

## † 4007. SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH: SHRI T.N. PRATHAPAN: SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL;

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a) the objectives of 'Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda  Research in Teaching Professionals' (SMART) programme launched by the Government to boost scientific research and development in the field of Ayurveda professionals;
- (b) whether the teachers through the SMART programme will be encouraged to take over the projects and prepare a big database in the designated fields of health research, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the measures being taken by the Government towards bringing a comprehensive change in the field of clinical or remedial research in Ayurveda;
- (d) the funds allocated and released under the said programme, State-wise; and
- (e) the tangible plan to implement the scheme and benefit Ayurveda Research under the above-mentioned programme?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF AYUSH (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a) Scope for mainstreaming Ayurveda research in teaching professionals (SMART) has been  undertaken  by  the  Central  Council  for  Research  in  Ayruvedic  Sciences (CCRAS), an Autonomous Body under Ministry of Ayush, to provide technical and financial  support  to  promote  robust  clinical  studies  through  mutual  collaboration with Ayurveda academia. The objectives of SMART programme are to undertake, aid,  promote  and  coordinate  research  to  promote  and  establish  a  theoretical  and practical foundation for high quality research in Ayurveda academic sector through collaboration.
- (b) Being Principal investigator(P-I) of projects under the said programme, teachers will be encouraged to take over the projects and prepare a big database in the designated

fields  of  health  research.    This  collaborative  Research  program  in  Ayurveda  is designed to enable research that has the potential to improve our understanding of safety  and  efficacy  of  Ayurveda  medicine,  products  and  practices.  This  was conceived with the aim to boost scientific research in priority healthcare research area through Ayush institutions and hospital.

- (c) CCRAS is engaged to promote research in the domains of Fundamental Research, Literature research, Drug Research, Clinical research and public health through its network  of  30  research  institutes  across  the  country  through  intramural  and collaborative  research  activities.  The  Council  is  engaged  in  disseminating  the benefits  of  Ayurveda  emerged  out  of  the  R&  D  outcomes  across  the  scientific community and general public through research publications in Journals, Technical reports, books, monographs & IEC material.
- (d) As per the CCRAS research policy, the Council has planned to do collaboration with academic institutions as 'SMART' programme. Funds under the programme are not pre-allocated state-wise. However, the budget will be sanctioned as per the research protocol aligning to the budgetary requirement of each project. No funds have so far been released as the programme has been launched on 2 nd January, 2023.
- (e) As SMART programme is not a scheme, the projects undertaken under the SMART programme will be executed as per the CCRAS research policy for collaborative research ensuring benefit sharing among stakeholders for translating the research outcomes for the benefit of the mankind.

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