Lok Sabha Question No. 5689 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Siddha Centres in Maharashtra
Ministry: AYUSH
Asked by: Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5689 ANSWERED ON 27.03.2026

## Siddha Centres in Maharashtra

†5689. Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

(a) the number of Siddha Centres operational in the country, State/UT-wise especially in the Maharashtra;

(b)  whether  the  Government  has  launched  any  awareness  programmes  and  educational campaigns to promote Siddha system of medicine;

(c) if so, the financial assistance provided for the promotion and development of the Siddha system of medicine during the last five years;

(d)  whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  policy  or  action  plan  to  integrate  Siddha system of medicine with mainstream medical services;

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the details of the hospitals and wellness centres providing Siddha based treatment under Ayushman Bharat-Health and Welfare Centres (ABHWC); and (f) whether the Government has taken any steps to promote education and training programmes in the Siddha system of medicine in the country, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) Total number of Siddha Dispensaries in the country including Maharashtra as on 01.04.2024 is furnished at Annexure I.

(b) & (c) Ministry of Ayush is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) through State/UT Governments for overall development and promotion of Ayush systems including Siddha across the country by providing financial assistance to them under different activities as per the provision of NAM guidelines against their submitted State Annual  Action  Plans  (SAAPs).    The  Mission  inter-alia  makes  provision  for  the  following

activities: -

(i)  Operationalization  of  Ayush  Health  and  Wellness  Centres  now  renamed  as  Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush) by upgrading existing Ayush dispensaries and Sub health Centres.

(ii)  Co-location  of  Ayush  facilities  at  Primary  Health  Centres  (PHCs),  Community  Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs).

(iii) Upgradation of existing standalone Government Ayush Hospitals.

(iv) Upgradation of existing Government/Panchayat/Government aided Ayush Dispensaries/ Construction of building for existing Ayush Dispensary (Rented/ dilapidated accommodation)/ Construction of building to establish new Ayush Dispensary in the area where there are no Ayush facilities available.

(v) Setting up of 10/30/50 bedded Integrated Ayush Hospitals.

(vi) Supply of essential drugs to Government Ayush Hospitals, Government Dispensaries and Government/Government aided Teaching Institutional Ayush Hospitals.

(vii) Ayush Public Health Programmes.

(viii) Establishment of new Ayush colleges in the States where availability of Ayush teaching institutions is inadequate in Government Sector.

(ix)  Infrastructural  development  of  Ayush  Under-Graduate  Institutions  and  Ayush  PostGraduate Institutions/ add on PG/ Pharmacy /Para-Medical Courses

Accordingly, as per the proposals received through SAAPs, 528 Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) (Ayush) Units in Tamil Nadu, 05 Units in Kerala and 01 Unit in Puducherry were operationalised and providing holistic health care to community through Siddha health care services.

Under NAM, an amount of Rs. 19409.62 lakhs, Rs. 1752.37 lakhs and Rs. 26918.16 lakhs  have  been  released  during  last  five  years  to  Tamil  Nadu,  Puducherry  and  Kerala respectively for overall development & promotion of Ayush including Siddha system as per the proposals received in their SAAPs.

Ministry of Ayush is also implementing a Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of Information,  Education  and  Communication  (IEC) in  Ayush  to  create  awareness  regarding Ayush Systems of Medicine including Siddha Medicine. This scheme aims to reach out to all sections  of  the  population  across  the  country  and  under  this  Scheme,  Ministry  organizes National/State level Arogya Fairs, Yoga Fests/Utsavs, Ayurveda Parvs, Celebrate Important Days  of  Ayush  Systems  including  Ayurveda  day,  participate  in  Health  Fairs/  Melas  &

Exhibitions, provide financial assistance for organizing seminars, workshops, conferences and conduct multimedia campaigns etc.

Further, National Institute of Siddha located in Tambaram Sanatorium, Chennai which is an autonomous body under Ministry of Ayush has been taking various steps for promoting Siddha System of medicine across the country by participating in Arogya fair etc., This Institute has created awareness about Siddha System of medicine to the people outside Tamil Nadu. The Institute also conducts many programmes like Siddha Day celebration, Continuing Medical Education (CMEs), Workshops, Seminars, Conferences to create more awareness about Siddha System of medicine.

(d)  &  (e)  Government  of  India  has  adopted  a  strategy  of  Co-location  of  Ayush  facilities including  Siddha  Systems  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 and  their  training  is  being  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 systems is being provided by the Ministry of Ayush under  NAM, as  shared  responsibilities.  Furthermore,  under  NAM,  there  is  a  provision  for financial  assistance  to  State/UT  Government  for  setting  up  of  10/30/50  bedded  Integrated Ayush Hospitals including Siddha system and accordingly State/UT Government may avail financial assistance by submitting suitable proposals through SAAPs.

(f) Under NAM, the State/UT Governments are supported for infrastructure development of Ayush Educational Institutions including Siddha Systems as per the proposals received through SAAPs. Further,  National  Institute  of  Siddha  is  promoting  Siddha  System  of  medicine  by conducting UG, PG and Ph.D courses in Siddha and also by providing treatment in the Siddha System of medicine to the patients reporting to the attached hospital.

In  collaboration  with  the  Central  Health  Education  Bureau  (CHEB),  Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (India), Master  Trainer  programmes  were  organized  in  2024  and  2025  on ' Standard  Treatment Guidelines (STG) for managing musculoskeletal disorders' and 'Standard Treatment Guidelines  (STG)  for  managing metabolic  disorders ' .  These  trainings  were  conducted  for medical officers of all Ayush Systems including Siddha medicine from all States & UTs.

Further, 'Capacity Building & Continuing Medical Education (CME) in Ayush' is one of  the  components  of  Central  Sector  Scheme  namely  Ayurgyan  which  is  implemented  by Ministry of Ayush since 2021-22 with an objective to encourage Ayush personnel including Siddha doctors to undergo need-based professional training and bridge the knowledge gaps. Under the Capacity Building and CME in Ayush Component, 12 training programmes related to Siddha System of Medicine have been supported to various organizations/institutions.

*****

## Annexure

State/UT wise total number of Siddha Dispensaries in the country as on 01.04.2024*

| Sl. No.                                                              | State / UT                                                           | Total No. of Siddha                                                  | Dispensaries                                                         |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1                                                                    | Karnataka                                                            | 1                                                                    |                                                                      |
| 2                                                                    | Kerala                                                               | 34                                                                   |                                                                      |
| 3                                                                    | Maharashtra                                                          | 0                                                                    |                                                                      |
| 4                                                                    | Tamil Nadu                                                           | 1065                                                                 |                                                                      |
| 5                                                                    | Puducherry                                                           | 28                                                                   |                                                                      |
| A.                                                                   | TOTAL                                                                | 1128                                                                 |                                                                      |
| CGHS &Central Government Organizations                               | CGHS &Central Government Organizations                               | 67                                                                   | 67                                                                   |
| TOTAL (A+B)                                                          | TOTAL (A+B)                                                          | 1195                                                                 | 1195                                                                 |
| *Source : As reported by State Governments/ UTs &Concerned Agencies. | *Source : As reported by State Governments/ UTs &Concerned Agencies. | *Source : As reported by State Governments/ UTs &Concerned Agencies. | *Source : As reported by State Governments/ UTs &Concerned Agencies. |