NEW DELHI: State governments have not shown a keen interest in the Centre's agenda to push for the national Ayush mission promoting the Indian traditional systems of medicine. Only Uttar Pradesh has fully utilized the funds allocated under the mission while other states have together utilized just 37% of central funds in last three years.

The national Ayush mission intends to build on India’s heritage of medicines like Ayurveda, Sidhha, Unani and Homeopathy (ASU&H). Since 2015-16, the central government has allocated funds of Rs 1,237 crore to the states of which only Rs 465 crore have been utilized till date according to the Ayush ministry’s reply to the Lok Sabha . The ministry’s reply is based on the utilization of funds as per the reports by the state governments.

The department of Ayush was granted the status of ministry in 2014. Out 36 states and union territories, only Uttar Pradesh has utilized 100% funds (Rs 192 cr) allocated by the central government.

Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Meghalaya have not used a single rupee of the central funds allocated to them under the mission while Delhi and Maharashtra have utilized 0.3% ( Rs. 1.76 lakhs) and 1.1% ( Rs 39 lakhs) respectively.

Nagaland, Kerala, Sikkim, and Mizoram are among the states which have used 60-75% funds while Haryana (55%) and Gujarat ( 50%) are two states which are in 50% plus category. Other states including Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Goa and West Bengal have used 10-12% funds.

TheUUnion cabinet has approved the continuation of centrally sponsored scheme of National Ayush Mission from April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2020, with an outlay of Rs. 2400 crore over the 3 year period. The mission was launched in September 2014.

