New Delhi: Twenty-one AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres were inaugurated in Jammu & Kashmir through video conferencing by Shripad Naik, Union Minister of State for AYUSH, and Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region. The event also included the laying of the foundation stone for a Post Harvest Management Centre for medicinal plants at Bhaderwah.

The Post Harvest Management Centre aims to establish facilities for drying, sorting, processing, certification, packaging, and safe storage of herbal raw materials collected or produced by local communities. This initiative is expected to enhance the quality of medicinal plant produce, helping farmers secure better prices and improve their income.

Under the Ayushman Bharat programme, 21 AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres were launched across Jammu & Kashmir to promote a holistic model of healthcare. These centres will focus on reducing disease burden and minimizing out-of-pocket expenditure. AYUSH interventions will primarily emphasize “self-care,” disease prevention, lifestyle improvement, balanced diet, yoga, and the use of medicinal plants.

In his address, Shripad Naik noted that establishing the Post Harvest Management Centre at Bhaderwah had been a long-standing demand of the region. He highlighted the area’s vast potential for cultivating Himalayan medicinal plant species and praised the UT administration for effectively implementing centrally sponsored programmes. He added that the Government of India is giving top priority to Jammu & Kashmir to accelerate development.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said the new centre would open employment avenues for youth and benefit growers and collectors of medicinal plants. He further emphasized that the AYUSH Health and Wellness Programme would not only serve local communities but also help promote AYUSH practices at the international level.