Lok Sabha Question No. 3465 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Geriatric Health Care Services
Ministry: AYUSH
Asked by: Shri Dulu Mahato, Shri Mukesh Rajput, Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3465

ANSWERED ON 21.03.2025

Geriatric Health Care Services

3465. Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh:

Shri Mukesh Rajput:

Shri Dulu Mahato:

Will the Minister of AYUSH

be pleased to state:

(a)  the  details  of  the  programmes  and  schemes  to  be  launched  under  MoU  to  enhance geriatric healthcare services and combat substance abuse;

(b)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  is  contemplating  to  integrate  AYUSH  based interventions with existing health care and de-addiction programmes at State and district level

across the country, State/UT-wise especially in Jharkhand;

(c) whether additional financial assistance is likely to be provided to the State Governments to implement AYUSH based old age and de-addiction programmes; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (d)  A MoU was signed between Ministry of Ayush (MoA) and Department of Social

Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) on 12.02.2025 with the following objectives -

- i. Develop  cooperation,  convergence  and  synergy  between  MoA  and  DoSJE  to  have innovative initiatives to promote health of senior citizens and also to attempt reducing demand  for  drugs  and  substance  abuse,  their  treatment  and  mental  rehabilitation

through, awareness generation, capacity building of service providers through Ayush systems.

- ii. Promote research in the area of Geriatric health, substance abuse and mental health
- iii. Any other activities for the purpose of health promotion of geriatric as well as drug addict population.

As  per  the  MoU,  the  roles  and  responsibilities  of  Ministry  of  Ayush  for  geriatric healthcare and substance abusers are to develop training module and treatment protocol of Ayush systems in the field of geriatric caregivers and substance abuse counsellors, develop video  module  on  yoga  training  program,  share  knowledge  and  practices  in  preventive  and curative  care,  provide Ayush related technical support and provide geriatric healthcare and de-addiction through autonomous bodies under Ministry of Ayush.

Under the MoU, DOSJE is responsible for facilitating the Ayush Autonomous bodies in  establishing  the  Geriatric  Health  Centers,  support  the  research  in  the  area  of  geriatric health, promote the integration of any of Ayush services in old age homes, to incorporate the Ayush systems in preventive and curative aspects of senior citizens, create awareness about the  Ayush  systems  amongst  the  senior  citizens,  to  support  and  develop  IEC  material  on geriatric care, to support in organizing the training programs, workshops and seminars aimed at  capacity  building  of  geriatric  caregivers.  Copy  of  the  MoU  has  been  shared  with  the Regional Resource Training Centres (RRTCs) under Ministry of Social Justice  & Empowerment to expand the reach of the MoU for the welfare of the senior citizens of the country including Jharkhand.

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