About Ayush Aahar

• The term “Aahar” is a Hindi word that translates to “Diet” in English.
• This is a pilot project that began in Ayush Bhawan, located in Delhi.
• Healthy meals are provided in the canteen of Ayush Bhawan.
  • Currently, some of the meals being offered include:
  1. Vegetable Upma,
  2. Sabudana Vada,
  3. Moong Dal Halwa,
  4. and Aam Panna.
• The project includes a feedback mechanism, with a feedback form given to those who avail the meals. This feedback is utilized to improve services and to decide on the introduction of new meals in the canteen under the project.
• The project has been launched by the Union Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India.
• As reported by the PIB, the ministry has stated in its press release that it aims to focus on Education, Research, Manufacturing, Public Health, and Governance in 2022. It is also reportedly working on a single window system to streamline and simplify the entire project.

Previous Significant Initiatives by the AYUSH Ministry

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increased focus on personal health and the importance of this has been emphasized by Prime Minister Modi. In response, various government ministries related to healthcare, including the Ministry of AYUSH, have stepped up their activities. In the past few years, the central government has launched several important schemes and projects on a national scale, a few of which are explained briefly below.

National Ayush Mission

Initially launched by the department of AYUSH under the Union Ministry of Health, and Family Welfare, Government of India, the National Ayush Mission (NAM) is now managed and executed by the Ministry of AYUSH, after it was separated from the health ministry and given the status of a new ministry.

The purpose of the National AYUSH Mission is to:

• Strengthen educational systems.
• Enforce strict quality control of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani, and Homoeopathy (ASU & H) drugs.
• Ensure the sustainable availability of ASU & H raw materials.

All these measures are taken to promote the AYUSH medical systems through cost-effective AYUSH services.

The NAM works in synergy with the corresponding state-level mission to extend its reach as far as possible.

Objectives

• Promote the cultivation of medicinal plants using Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) to ensure a steady and sustainable supply of raw materials for the manufacturing of ASU & H drugs.
• Enhance institutional capacity in the country by upgrading:
  • ASU & H Enforcement System
  • State Government ASU & H Pharmacies
  • AYUSH Educational Institutions
  • Drug Testing Labs
• Provide universal AYUSH services at a low cost by:
  • Upgrading AYUSH hospitals/clinics, and pharmacies
  • Providing Ayush facilities at District Hospitals (DHs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
• Encourage the establishment of clusters for entrepreneurs across the nation through the convergence of cultivation, warehousing, value addition, and marketing & development of core infrastructure.

Visit the attached link to read in more detail about the National Ayush Mission .

Aahaar Kranti Mission

The central government launched the Aahaar Kranti mission to raise awareness about the importance of good nutrition. It also aims to address key challenges related to hunger and diseases worldwide. The mission has been jointly launched by:

1. Vigyan Prasar (an autonomous body under the Ministry of Science, and Technology),
2. Vijnana Bharati (Vibha),
3. Global Indian Scientists and Technocrats’ Forum (GIST),
4. and Pravasi Bharatiya Academic and Scientific Sampark (PRABHASS).

The mission was launched with the motto of “Uttam Aahaar – Uttam Vichaar” or “Good Diet-Good Cognition” in English.

The initiative promotes the significance of local fruits and vegetables, the healing powers of a balanced diet, and the richness of India's traditional diet, using the profound knowledge of Ayurveda-based nutrition.

India’s Performance in Key Health Indicators

Over the past two decades, India's ranking in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) has declined.

• Global Hunger Index 2021 Rank : 101 out of 116
• Global Hunger Index 2021 Score : 27.5
• Underweight children below the age of 5 : 34.7 %
• Stunted children below the age of 5 : 37.4 %
• Wasted children below the age of 5 : 20.0 %

The statistics on stunting, wasting and underweight children are sourced from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) (2015 – 2017).

Digital Initiatives in the Ayush Sector

Here are some of the latest online portals launched to provide better and quicker access to information and government services:

1. Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI)
2. Research Management Information System (RMIS)
3. Showcase of Ayurveda Historical Imprints (SAHI)
4. Ayush Manuscripts Advanced Repository (AMAR)
5. Electronic – Medical Heritage Accession (e-Medha)

Ayush Clinical Case Repository Portal

This portal showcases the strengths and advantages of the AYUSH health system for the treatment, cure, and prevention of various diseases and conditions. It aims to promote AYUSH at par with Allopathy across the country.

AYUSH Sanjivani Application

This application will provide documented studies about the efficiency of certain AYUSH interventions in the treatment, diagnostics, and prevention of some diseases, including COVID – 19.

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