Former Ayush Nodal Officer Explains Growing Acceptance of Alternative Medicine in Jharkhand
In an exclusive interview, former nodal officer of Ayush for Jharkhand, Diwakar Chandra Jha, spoke with Dhrubajyoti Malakar about the increasing public acceptance of alternative medicine systems and the initiatives undertaken to promote them across the state.
Factors Driving the Rise of Alternative Medicine
Diwakar Chandra Jha highlighted several key factors behind the growing acceptance of alternative medicines. He emphasized that all five components of Ayush—Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy—offer affordable treatment options with minimal side effects compared to conventional allopathic medicines.
"The expanding research in this sector has led to the development of medicines for a wide range of ailments, which has significantly contributed to their growing acceptance," Jha explained. He also noted that the credibility of Ayush practices has been enhanced by the rigorous selection process for future practitioners, who are chosen through state-level examinations.
Role of the Ayush Department in Promotion
The Ayush ministry has a clear mandate to develop these traditional systems and position them as the preferred mode of living and practice for achieving a healthy India. State departments under the Union Ayush ministry actively promote indigenous medicine systems through comprehensive policy formulation, widespread awareness campaigns, and extensive educational programs.
"These efforts aim to strengthen the evidence base, enhance quality standards, and ensure the global relevance of traditional Indian medicine," Jha stated, outlining the department's strategic objectives.
Jharkhand's Initiatives to Promote Ayush Systems
During his tenure as nodal officer from 2022 to 2025, Jha oversaw several significant initiatives. The department targeted the establishment of approximately 1,200 health and wellness centers across Jharkhand, similar to primary healthcare centers (Arogya Mandir).
"At least 870 centers were made functional through the appointment of contractual Ayush doctors," Jha revealed. The initiatives included:
- Regular training programs for doctors
- Complete revamping of center setups
- Daily yoga sessions conducted at wellness centers with appointed yoga instructors
- Strengthening of Ayurvedic medical colleges in Giridih and Chaibasa
- Enhancement of a homoeopathic college in Godda to promote Ayush studies
Current Status and Challenges of Wellness Centers
Despite these efforts, Jha expressed concern about the current performance of the wellness centers. "As per my knowledge, the centers are not doing very well currently," he admitted. The promotional activities have reportedly stalled, and the fact that Ayush remains under the health department has created operational hurdles.
A particularly concerning example is the State Yoga Kendra in Ranchi, which now lies defunct. Previously, this center conducted daily live streaming of yoga sessions to benefit the public.
"The way forward requires the department to revive earlier activities so that people can once again benefit from these services," Jha emphasized, calling for renewed commitment to the Ayush mission in Jharkhand.
