Lok Sabha Question No. 4680 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-28
Subject: Siddha Centres in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: AYUSH
Asked by: Shri Navaskani K, Shri Selvam G, Shri C N Annadurai

4680.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4680

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH  MARCH, 2025

## Siddha Centres in Tamil Nadu

Shri C N Annadurai: Shri Navaskani K: Shri Selvam G:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

(a) the number of Siddha centres functioning in the country, State/UT-wise, particularly in Tamil Nadu;

(b) whether the Government has undertaken any awareness programs or educational campaigns to promote Siddha medicine and if so, the details of financial support provided for the promotion and development of the Siddha system during the last five years;

(c)  whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  policy  or  action  plan  to  integrate  Siddha medicine into mainstream healthcare, if so, the details thereof along with the details of hospitals and wellness centres providing Siddha-based treatments under the Ayushman Bharat  - Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs);

(d)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  increase  Siddha  medical  education  and training programs in the country, if so, the details thereof;

(e) the number of Siddha medical colleges and research institutions currently operational in the country, State/UT-wise; and

(f)  the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  attract  more  students  and  researchers  into  the Siddha system of medicine?

## ANSWER

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

(a): 298 Siddha hospitals and 918 Siddha dispensaries are functioning in the country. Out of which, 289 Siddha hospitals and 790 Siddha dispensaries are functioning in Tamil Nadu. The State/UT-wise distribution is at Annexure - I.

(b): Ministry of Ayush has established National Institute of Siddha (NIS) at Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) Headquarters at Chennai, Tamil Nadu for the promotion and development of Siddha medical system and Siddha Medicines. CCRS has implemented the below mentioned initiatives to promote awareness and accessibility of Siddha medicine.

- i. Swasthya Rakshan Programme
- ii. Poshan Abhiyaan Activities
- iii. Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Activities
- iv. National Tele-Consultation Service (eSanjeevani OPD)
- v. Siddha Wellness Rally and Awareness Campaign in collaboration with NIS
- vi. Siddha Day Celebrations in collaboration with NIS
- vii. Educational and Sensitization Programs
- viii. Digital and Media Outreach
- ix. Educational Initiatives

Funds allocated to CCRS & NIS, during the last five years, year-wise are given at Annexure - II.

Ministry  of  Ayush  implements  the  Central  Sector  Scheme  for  Promotion  of  Information Education and Communication (IEC) in Ayush to create awareness regarding Ayush Systems of Medicine  including  Siddha  System  of  medicine.  This  aims  to  reach  out  to  all  sections  of  the population  across  the  country.  This  scheme  provides  assistance  for  organizing  National/State Arogya  Fairs,  Yoga  Fests/Utsavs,  Ayurveda  Parvs,  etc.  The  Ministry  also  undertakes  MultiMedia,  Print  Media  Campaigns  for  creating  awareness  about  Ayush  System  including  Siddha System. Under IEC Scheme, based on the request of NIS and CCRS, financial assistance have been  provided  to  CCRS  and  NIS  for  observation  of  Siddha  Day.  The  details  of  financial assistance provided in the last five years are given at Annexure - III.

(c): Government of India has adopted a strategy of Co-location of Ayush facilities including Siddha  at  Primary  Health  Centres  (PHCs),  Community  Health  Centres  (CHCs)  and  District Hospitals  (DHs),  thus  enabling  the  choice  to  the  patients  for  different  systems  of  medicines under  a  single  window.  The  engagement  of  Ayush  doctors/  paramedics  including  Siddha  and their training is supported by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under National Health Mission (NHM), while the support for Ayush infrastructure, equipment/ furniture and medicines including Siddha are provided by the Ministry of Ayush under National Ayush Mission (NAM) as shared responsibilities.

(d): Ministry  of  Ayush  implements  the  Central  Sector  Scheme  namely  Ayurgyan.  The 'Capacity Building & Continuing Medical Education in Ayush' component of Ayurgyan Scheme has  the  provision  to  support  the  eligible  institutes  across  the  country  for  training  &  capacity building program with the aim to encourage Ayush personnel including Siddha to undergo needbased professional training and bridge the knowledge gaps.

Ministry  of  Ayush  has  established  National  Commission  for  Indian  System  of  Medicine (NCISM) to regulate the medical education of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems. NCISM has conducted following Capacity building and training programmes:

- i. Training of Trainers on Entrepreneurship Development for Coordinators of Research and Innovation Cell
- ii. Academia-Industria Interface
- iii. Orientation Program on Competency based Curriculum and Syllabus
- iv. Capacity Building Program 'Educational Planning & Administration'
- v. Post Graduate -Guide Orientation Program

CCRS  and  NIS  conducts  seminars,  webinars,  workshops,  conferences,  continuous  medical education programmes, awareness programmes, lecture series, medical camps related to Siddha system of medicine.

(e): 17  Siddha  medical  colleges  and  9  research  institutions  are  currently  operational  in  the country. The State/UT-wise distribution is at Annexure - IV.

(f): CCRS has implemented following initiatives to promote Siddha medicine among students and  researchers,  encouraging  greater  participation  in  this  traditional  healthcare  system.  By implementing following initiatives, CCRS is actively working to make Siddha medicine a more attractive and research-oriented career option for students and young scholars.

- i. Internship Programs
- ii. Mini Project Proposal Grant
- iii. Research Publications & Scientific Contributions
- iv. Patents
- v. Workshops, Seminars, and Conferences
- vi. Integrated Research Opportunities
- vii. Siddha Day Celebrations
- viii. Awareness through Media & Publications
- ix. Exposure to Siddha-based Healthcare
- x. Academic Collaborations & Training

Government  of  India  is  sponsoring  foreign  students  through  Indian  Council  for  Cultural Relations (ICCR) programme to get admission in Siddha Medical Colleges in the country for the propagation of Siddha Medical System globally.

**********

State/  UT-wise  number  of  Siddha  hospitals  and  dispensaries  in  the  country  as  on 01.04.2023:

| S. No.                      | State/UT                    | No. of Siddha hospitals     | No. of Siddha dispensaries   |
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------|
| A. States/Union Territories | A. States/Union Territories | A. States/Union Territories | A. States/Union Territories  |
| 1                           | Andhra Pradesh              | 0                           | 0                            |
| 2                           | Arunachal Pradesh           | 0                           | 0                            |
| 3                           | Assam                       | 0                           | 0                            |
| 4                           | Bihar                       | 0                           | 0                            |
| 5                           | Chhattisgarh                | 0                           | 0                            |
| 6                           | Delhi                       | 0                           | 0                            |
| 7                           | Goa                         | 0                           | 0                            |
| 8                           | Gujarat                     | 0                           | 0                            |
| 9                           | Haryana                     | 0                           | 0                            |
| 10                          | Himachal Pradesh            | 0                           | 0                            |
| 11                          | Jammu &Kashmir              | 0                           | 0                            |
| 12                          | Jharkhand                   | 0                           | 0                            |
| 13                          | Karnataka                   | 0                           | 1                            |
| 14                          | Kerala                      | 1                           | 34                           |
| 15                          | Madhya Pradesh              | 0                           | 0                            |
| 16                          | Maharashtra                 | 0                           | 0                            |
| 17                          | Manipur                     | 0                           | 0                            |
| 18                          | Meghalaya                   | 0                           | 0                            |
| 19                          | Mizoram                     | 0                           | 0                            |
| 20                          | Nagaland                    | 0                           | 0                            |
| 21                          | Odisha                      | 0                           | 0                            |
| 22                          | Punjab                      | 0                           | 0                            |
| 23                          | Rajasthan                   | 0                           | 0                            |
| 24                          | Sikkim                      | 0                           | 0                            |
| 25                          | Tamil Nadu                  | 289                         | 790                          |
| 26                          | Tripura                     | 0                           | 0                            |
| 27                          | Uttar Pradesh               | 0                           | 0                            |
| 28                          | Uttarakhand                 | 0                           | 0                            |
| 29                          | West Bengal                 | 0                           | 0                            |
| 30                          | A&N Islands                 | 0                           | 0                            |

| 31                                        | Chandigarh                                |   0 |   0 |
|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-----|-----|
| 32                                        | D&N Haveli and Daman & Diu                |   0 |   0 |
| 33                                        | Ladakh                                    |   0 |   0 |
| 34                                        | Lakshadweep                               |   0 |   0 |
| 35                                        | Puducherry                                |   2 |  28 |
| 36                                        | Telangana                                 |   0 |   0 |
| TOTAL(A)                                  | TOTAL(A)                                  | 292 | 853 |
| B. CGHS &Central Government Organizations | B. CGHS &Central Government Organizations |   6 |  65 |
| TOTAL(A+B)                                | TOTAL(A+B)                                | 298 | 918 |

Source:

State / UT Governments & Concerned agencies.

Funds allocated to CCRS & NIS, during the last five years, year-wise:

| S.No   | Financial Year   | (Amount in Crores)   | (Amount in Crores)   | (Amount in Crores)   |
|--------|------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
|        |                  | CCRS                 | NIS                  | Total                |
| 1      | 2020-21          | 35.30                | 47.58                | 82.88                |
| 2      | 2021-22          | 39.06                | 44.76                | 83.82                |
| 3      | 2022-23          | 46.88                | 59.01                | 105.89               |
| 4      | 2023-24          | 50.91                | 68.40                | 119.31               |
| 5      | 2024-25          | 55.94                | 81.62                | 137.56               |
| Total  | Total            | 228.09               | 301.37               | 529.46               |

Annexure - II

Financial assistance provided to CCRS and NIS for observation of Siddha Day in the last five years:

| (Amount in Rupees)   | (Amount in Rupees)     | (Amount in Rupees)   | (Amount in Rupees)   | (Amount in Rupees)   |
|----------------------|------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
| S.No                 | Year                   | CCRS                 | NIS                  | Total                |
| 1                    | 2024 (8 th Siddha Day) | 65,16,529            | 93,71,915            | 1,58,88,444          |
| 2                    | 2023 (7th Siddha Day)  | 69,01,974            | 90,07,701            | 1,59,09,675          |
| 3                    | 2022 (6 th Siddha Day) | 36,05,961            | 33,83,097            | 69,89,058            |
| 4                    | 2021 (5 th Siddha Day) | 50,00,000            | 38 ,05,000           | 88,05,000            |
| 5                    | 2020 (3 rd Siddha Day) | 40,00,000            | 20,00,000            | 60,00,000            |
| Total                | Total                  | 2,60,24,464          | 2,75,67,713          | 5,35,92,177          |

## Annexure- IV

## State/ UT-wise number of Siddha medical colleges and research institutions in the country:

|   S. No. | State/UT             |   No. of Siddha medical colleges |   No. of Siddha research institutions |
|----------|----------------------|----------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
|        1 | Andhra Pradesh       |                                0 |                                     1 |
|        2 | Arunachal Pradesh    |                                0 |                                     0 |
|        3 | Assam                |                                0 |                                     0 |
|        4 | Bihar                |                                0 |                                     0 |
|        5 | Chhattisgarh         |                                0 |                                     0 |
|        6 | Delhi                |                                0 |                                     1 |
|        7 | Goa                  |                                0 |                                     1 |
|        8 | Gujarat              |                                0 |                                     0 |
|        9 | Haryana              |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       10 | Himachal Pradesh     |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       11 | Jammu &Kashmir       |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       12 | Jharkhand            |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       13 | Karnataka            |                                0 |                                     1 |
|       14 | Kerala               |                                1 |                                     1 |
|       15 | Madhya Pradesh       |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       16 | Maharashtra          |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       17 | Manipur              |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       18 | Meghalaya            |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       19 | Mizoram              |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       20 | Nagaland             |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       21 | Odisha               |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       22 | Punjab               |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       23 | Rajasthan            |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       24 | Sikkim               |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       25 | Tamil Nadu           |                               16 |                                     3 |
|       26 | Tripura              |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       27 | Uttar Pradesh        |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       28 | Uttarakhand          |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       29 | West Bengal          |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       30 | A&N Islands          |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       31 | Chandigarh           |                                0 |                                     0 |
|       32 | D&N Haveli and Daman |                                0 |                                     0 |

|       | &Diu        |    |    |
|-------|-------------|----|----|
| 33    | Ladakh      |  0 |  0 |
| 34    | Lakshadweep |  0 |  0 |
| 35    | Puducherry  |  0 |  1 |
| 36    | Telangana   |  0 |  0 |
| TOTAL | TOTAL       | 17 |  9 |