Jammu, Sep 23 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Medical and Health Education and Social Welfare Sakeena Itoo on Wednesday said a healthy society requires not only hospitals and medicines but also awareness, prevention, healthy lifestyles and responsible use of natural resources.

Itoo made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the 11th Ayurveda Day 2026 celebrations organised by the Directorate of AYUSH, Jammu and Kashmir, under the theme "Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow".

The minister said Ayurveda was an important part of India's traditional knowledge and was receiving growing global recognition.

She said the theme reflected the increasing relevance of Ayurveda in preventive healthcare, wellness and community wellbeing, and emphasised the need to strengthen an integrative approach to healthcare in Jammu and Kashmir.

Itoo called for greater co-location of AYUSH services in healthcare institutions and appreciated the Directorate of AYUSH for its contribution through inter-sectoral convergence and participation in programmes such as Nasha Mukt Bharat, Anaemia Mukt Bharat and prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.

Highlighting the strengthening of AYUSH infrastructure, the minister referred to the 50-bedded Integrated AYUSH Hospital at Kulgam, progress on hospitals at Kathua and Samba and the Government Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital at Amargarh, Sopore.

She said posts of District AYUSH Officers had also been created and filled to strengthen the functioning of AYUSH services at the district level.

Itoo highlighted Jammu and Kashmir's rich medicinal plant wealth and appreciated initiatives including school herbal gardens, farmer training, buyer-seller meets and medicinal plant cultivation.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

She said around 87,110 people participated in International Day of Yoga 2026, while AYUSH services during Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026 included 39,609 Yoga sessions that benefited 1,56,672 participants.

The minister said the contribution of AYUSH to preventive and community healthcare was growing through Yoga, public health programmes, outreach and awareness initiatives.

She added that the medicinal plants sector was also being strengthened through conservation, cultivation, farmer training, value addition and industry linkages.

Dr Ashutosh Gupta, Principal, Government Medical College Jammu and Government Ayurvedic Medical College, Akhnoor, Director AYUSH Dr Ajay Kumar Tikoo, Director Health Services, Jammu, and former officers of the Directorate of AYUSH, J&K, were present at the event.

Dr Gupta delivered a presentation on "Ayurveda and Cancer", highlighting the emerging scope for research and innovation in Ayurveda and stressing the need for systematic research, scientific validation and greater collaboration between Ayurveda institutions, medical colleges and research organisations.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Tikoo highlighted the expanding reach of AYUSH services across Jammu and Kashmir and the importance of integrating traditional knowledge with evidence, research and innovation.

The programme concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening quality AYUSH services, preventive healthcare, healthy lifestyles, research and innovation across Jammu and Kashmir.(KNS)