The Jammu and Kashmir government, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on Tuesday, 2 June 2025, approved a comprehensive ₹91.997 crore State Annual Action Plan (SAAP) for 2026-27 under the National AYUSH Mission (NAM), with a strong focus on expanding healthcare infrastructure, outreach programmes, and positioning J&K as a leading wellness tourism destination.

Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired the Governing Body Meeting of the J&K AYUSH Society, where the plan was cleared for submission to the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. The proposed outlay of ₹91.997 crore significantly exceeds the Ministry's tentative resource envelope of ₹58.539 crore, reflecting the UT administration's ambition to scale up AYUSH services across the region.

Key Priorities in the Action Plan

Director AYUSH Dr. Ajay Kumar Tikoo informed the Governing Body that the plan envisages strengthening 523 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, augmenting AYUSH units in public health institutions, ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential medicines, upgrading existing AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries, and accelerating the completion of new healthcare facilities in underserved areas.

The plan also calls for the deployment of AYUSH Mobile Medical Units and expanded coverage of major public welfare programmes — including the National Programme for Prevention and Management of Osteoarthritis, the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS), AYUSH Maternal and Neo-natal Intervention, AYUSH Geriatric Healthcare Services, and AYUSH Palliative Services.

Wellness Tourism: J&K Looks to Kerala, Maharashtra Model

Chief Secretary Dulloo underscored the immense potential of wellness tourism for J&K, drawing comparisons with states such as Kerala, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, which have successfully branded themselves as wellness and healthcare destinations. He called for the formulation of a robust wellness policy in collaboration with private stakeholders, arguing that J&K's globally acclaimed tourist destinations give it a natural advantage in this space.

This push comes as wellness tourism has emerged as a high-growth segment nationally, with travellers increasingly combining pilgrimage and leisure trips with traditional medicine and therapeutic experiences.

Community Livelihood and Herbal Gardens

The Chief Secretary directed the AYUSH department to establish herbal gardens in government institutions and involve local Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the processing and value addition of medicinal herbs. The initiative is designed to generate livelihood opportunities while simultaneously promoting indigenous medicinal products — linking public health goals with rural economic development.

Dulloo also stressed expediting faculty recruitment through designated agencies to strengthen AYUSH colleges and improve academic standards across the UT.

Finance Department Flags Consolidation over Expansion

Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Shailendra Kumar advised the department to focus on augmenting and consolidating existing facilities rather than spreading resources thinly across multiple initiatives. He also advocated integrating AYUSH interventions into rehabilitation efforts for drug abuse victims, urging active participation in the ongoing 'Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan' campaign.

Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education, M. Raju, presented the road map for expanding AYUSH services, noting that the Annual Action Plan was formulated after extensive consultations with district-level AYUSH functionaries and heads of AYUSH medical colleges.

Governance Reforms and What Comes Next

The Governing Body also approved the reconstitution of the Executive Committee of the J&K AYUSH Society, with representation from the Health and Medical Education Department, National Health Mission, Finance, Planning, and other technical stakeholders — a structural reform aimed at tightening implementation oversight.

With the SAAP now cleared for submission to the Centre, the J&K administration's ability to secure the full ₹91.997 crore outlay — against an indicated envelope of ₹58.539 crore — will be the next critical test of this ambitious healthcare and wellness agenda.