AYUSH Minister Prataprao Jadhav on Friday said AYUSH is not only a system of medicine but also a movement for social transformation, rural empowerment and global leadership in holistic health care. Speaking at the ‘Rashtriya Arogya Mela 2026’ at Shegaon in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district, Jadhav stressed on the growing relevance of AYUSH in addressing lifestyle disorders. He urged citizens to adopt disciplined daily routines like sleeping early and waking up early to deal with conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. The Minister highlighted the importance of preventive health care and encouraged the adoption of simple Ayurvedic home remedies rooted in traditional knowledge, referring to the popular concept of “Aaji Bai ka Batua” as an affordable and practical model for self-care at the village level.
Jadhav also highlighted the importance of structured market linkages, quality standards and institutional support to enable India to emerge as a reliable global supplier of medicinal plant raw materials.
The ministry’s pavilion featured participation from its research councils, national institutes and the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), showcasing research achievements, academic programmes, clinical services, public health initiatives and evidence-based advances in AYUSH systems.
According to an official statement, a wide range of physical and digital information, education and communication (IEC) materials are being disseminated to create awareness about key schemes, research results and public health outreach programmes.
Interactive digital displays and exhibitions on medicinal plants and herbal products are attracting visitors from different age groups and backgrounds.
The statement further said that free medical consultation is being provided by qualified practitioners of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homeopathy systems.
It added, “A special AYUSH diet section is promoting region-specific and nutritionally balanced dietary practices based on AYUSH principles, reinforcing the important role of diet in preventive health care and overall well-being.”
The fair has emerged as an important platform for direct engagement with citizens, healthcare providers, farmers and industry stakeholders.
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