A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been submitted to the Supreme Court, asking for the addition of Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy to the Ayushman Bharat healthcare program, officially known as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)

The petitioner claims that, despite the government’s promises and the Delhi High Court’s orders to speed up this process, these traditional healthcare methods have not yet been included in PM-JAY. Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhya, who filed the petition, pointed out that while PM-JAY mainly focuses on allopathic treatments for low-income individuals and those living below the poverty line, it overlooks important traditional practices like Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, even though the National Health Policy of 2017 recommends their inclusion. The petition emphasizes that these traditional medical systems, which are an essential part of Indian culture, have shown effectiveness in meeting healthcare needs and deserve to be part of the national program.

The PIL highlights that India’s extensive healthcare history, found in ancient texts like the Vedas and Upanishads, has been diminished due to colonial policies that sidelined native practices. It also mentions a previous commitment from the government on March 1, 2024, to incorporate traditional healthcare systems into PM-JAY, a promise that has not yet been realized.

India has a wealth of traditions from wise sages, supported by various texts like the Vedas, Puranas, and Upanishads. Sadly, foreign rulers and those with a colonial mindset have caused a decline in our cultural, intellectual, and scientific heritage through their policies. These outsiders, driven by profit, have introduced laws and schemes since our independence that have gradually weakened our rich history and culture, according to the PIL. After a writ petition was filed in the Delhi High Court in 2023, the court instructed the Centre to consider the PIL as a representation and act quickly. However, the petitioner claims that Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy are still not included in Ayushman Bharat, leading to the current PIL in the Supreme Court, submitted on November 4, 2024, for a final solution.

Cause Title: Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India and Ors. [Diary No. 50851-202]