Ranchi: Despite being sanctioned nearly Rs 279 crore in central assistance over 11 years to strengthen traditional healthcare, Jharkhand has only one govt yoga centre and a govt Unani medical college and hospital.A written reply tabled recently in the Lok Sabha by the Union ministry of Ayush showed that Rs 278.84 crore was sanctioned to Jharkhand under the National Ayush Mission (NAM) between 2014-15 and 2024-25.NAM provides financial assistance to states for establishing Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, integrating Ayush services at primary health centres, community health centres and district hospitals, and upgrading govt Ayush hospitals and dispensaries. It also supports integrated Ayush hospitals, essential medicines, educational institutions and public health programmes.However, information furnished by state govt to the Centre lists only the State Yoga Centre on East Jail Road in Ranchi and the State Unani Medical College and Hospital in Giridih as govt-run institutions in these disciplines.The parliamentary reply does not mention any additional govt yoga, naturopathy or Unani institution established in Jharkhand during the period, highlighting the gap between sanctioned assistance and visible infrastructure.The issue was raised by Rajmahal MP Vijay Hansdak, who pointed out that a sizeable section of Jharkhand’s population, particularly in rural and tribal areas, continues to rely on traditional systems of medicine.Although the ministry detailed several interventions supported under NAM and nationwide awareness initiatives, its reply did not provide district-wise figures for fund utilisation in Jharkhand. It also omitted details about facilities created, AYUSH doctors deployed and beneficiaries covered. Experts said the absence of such data made it difficult to assess the impact of the central assistance.
