The State Ayush Mission Society will be formed in Maharashtra for the implementation of National Ayush Mission scheme in the state. Under this scheme the Department of Ayush, under ministry of health and family welfare, has allocated funding of Rs.18 crore for the upliftment of Ayush sector.

The State Ayush Mission Society will be the governing body at the state level, which comprises of chief secretary as chairman and principal secretary of Ayush (health and family welfare) as member secretary. The role of society will be to provide an overview of Ayush systems, review the Ayush policy and programme implementation, inter-sectoral co-ordination, advocacy measures required to promote Ayush visibility and approval of State Annual Action Plan (SAAP).

The role of executive body will be to review the detailed expenditure and implementation of NAM, preparation of SAAP and submitting for approval of the governing body, execution of approved SAAP including the release of fund as per annual action plan, follow up action on the decision of the governing body, monitoring and evaluation and maintain accounts of the society, and administration of the society.

Dr Kuldeep Raj Kohli, director, directorate of Ayush, Maharashtra says “This year, the government has given the responsibility to the state by launching NAM scheme under which the state has to make the State Annual Action Plan (SAAP) for the whole and this plan will be funded by the government. Under this scheme, the government has allocated Rs.18 crore. The money will directly come to the government treasury and from government treasury, it is transferred to the State Ayush Mission Society for the utilisation of approved SAAP. In Maharashtra the society is expected to be formed soon, the process is ongoing and may be in a month or two we will have State Ayush Mission Society.”

He further adds “All the states and union territories have to form the State Ayush Mission Society, if they are willing to implement the NAM scheme. The funds will only be transferred to the state if they have established State Ayush Mission Society in their state. We cannot receive the fund until we have a society. The society will disburse the finance to the projects mentioned in SAAP. The society will also monitor the progression of the projects that are funded.”

NAM is a state level scheme, launched by the Department of Ayush, ministry of health and family welfare, during 12th Plan to be implemented in all states/union territories. The objective of NAM scheme is to promote Ayush medical systems through cost effective Ayush services, strengthening of educational systems, facilitate the enforcement of quality control of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) drugs and sustainable availability of ASU&H raw materials.