President Murmu Opens National Arogya Fair 2026 in Shegaon
Felicitates Six Senior Vaidyas, Calls AYUSH Systems Vital for Holistic Healthcare
- President inaugurates National Arogya Fair in Shegaon, Maharashtra
- Six senior Vaidyas honoured for contribution to AYUSH
- Emphasis on medicinal plant cultivation and environmental balance
- Calls for evidence-based research and global standards in AYUSH
GG News Bureau
Shegaon, 25th Feb: The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, on Wednesday inaugurated the National Arogya Fair 2026 in Shegaon, located in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district. She also felicitated six senior Vaidyas for their contribution to the field of AYUSH healthcare.
Addressing the gathering, the President said that in Indian tradition, overall health is regarded as the greatest happiness and that healthy citizens are central to national strength. She noted that AYUSH systems of medicine have made an invaluable contribution to public health over centuries.
She said practices such as yoga, Ayurveda and Siddha have been serving society since long before the advent of modern medicine.
Focus on Medicinal Plants and Sustainability
The President highlighted that farms, kitchens and forests in India contain a rich repository of medicinal plants and herbs. Conserving and enhancing this natural wealth, she said, is crucial not only for providing raw materials for medicines but also for maintaining ecological balance.
She added that cultivation of medicinal plants can improve farmers’ incomes while also contributing to soil health and environmental conservation. Promoting AYUSH systems, therefore, supports both physical well-being and economic sustainability.
Integrative Medicine and Global Acceptance
The President said Ayurveda, yoga and other AYUSH disciplines offer guidance for leading balanced and healthy lives. She observed that the global community is increasingly recognising the value of integrative medicine for disease prevention, with yoga being widely adopted for stress management and overall wellness.
She expressed satisfaction that the Ministry of AYUSH is advancing evidence-based research, standardisation of medicines and quality control mechanisms in line with international standards.
General guidelines for research and drug development have been framed to strengthen scientific validation, she noted, adding that several initiatives are underway to position Ayurveda, Yoga and other AYUSH systems as reliable solutions to modern health challenges.
The President expressed confidence that with modern scientific interventions, innovation and global cooperation, traditional systems of medicine would become an integral part of the country’s holistic healthcare framework.
