In a significant move towards holistic and inclusive healthcare, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, has partnered with the Ministry of AYUSH to promote integrative rehabilitation for persons with disabilities. The collaboration aims to combine modern rehabilitation practices with traditional AYUSH systems – including Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy – to provide comprehensive care that addresses physical, psychological, and social needs of persons with disabilities.
Under this initiative, AYUSH therapies such as yoga-based rehabilitation, pain management through Ayurveda, naturopathy for lifestyle support, and homeopathy for chronic conditions will be integrated with conventional rehabilitation services currently offered by DEPwD. The partnership also envisions setting up integrative service models at Composite Regional Centres (CRCs), District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRCs), and National Institutes working in the disability sector.
Speaking on the occasion, officials highlighted that the joint effort will focus on:
- Developing standard treatment protocols combining AYUSH and conventional therapies.
- Training rehabilitation professionals and AYUSH practitioners to work in tandem.
- Research and evidence generation to assess outcomes of integrative approaches.
- Community outreach programmes for preventive rehabilitation and awareness.
The initiative is expected to enhance the quality of life, mobility, and mental well-being of persons with disabilities, in line with the goals of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, and the National Policy on Disability.
This collaboration marks another step by the Government of India towards mainstreaming AYUSH in public health while ensuring inclusive and accessible rehabilitation for persons with disabilities.