Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been closely linked with the promotion of temples and showcasing his faith to emphasize the Hindutva ideology of his administration. During a strict 11-day ritual for the prana pratishtha ceremony for the Ayodhya temple of Rama, Prime Minister Modi visited temples associated with the Ramayana. Following this, on 22 January, he inaugurated the Kalki Dham temple in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, on 14 February, PM Modi inaugurated the BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi.
While these temples are well-known, there is a kind of temple that may not be familiar to everyone.
During his speech at the India Today Conclave 2024, Prime Minister Modi mentioned a new category of temples that he believed had not received sufficient attention in the media headlines.
The prime minister taunted those who criticise his love for temples, stating, “Many people would get stuck at the mention of the word ‘mandir’, but it is their problem, not mine.” The sarcastic remark was met with a round of applause and some laughter at the India Today Conclave 2023 on Saturday, 16 March.
The prime minister was speaking otherwise on the Aayushman Arogya Mandirs, emphasizing his overarching goal of ‘One Earth One Health’. The Aayushman Arogya Mandirs, as explained by the prime minister, serve as vital centres of healthcare in rural areas, offering modern medical services. Individuals can avail of health treatments worth up to Rs 5 lakh free of charge at these facilities, which the prime minister likened to “temples”. “Ayushman Arogya Mandirs can be found in villages across the country,” he stressed.
The prime minister highlighted that the government has established more than 1.5 lakh Aayushman Arogya Mandirs in Indian villages, underscoring the administration’s unwavering commitment.
Aligned with the motto “Arogyam Parmam Dhanam”, these healthcare centres aim to enhance various aspects of healthcare, including preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative services.
Prime Minister Modi mentioned that, in addition to basic pathological tests, preliminary screenings for diabetes and cancer are conducted at the Arogya Mandirs.
There are approximately 1,70,000 operational Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in India, which include Sub-Health Centres, Primary Health Centres, Urban Primary Health Care Centres, and Urban Primary Health Centres, as stated on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website. Formerly known as Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs), these facilities were rebranded as ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandir’ in November 2023.
“Going one step further and realising the dream of Ayushman India, the competent authority has decided to rename the Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centres as ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandir’ with the tagline ‘Arogyam Parmam Dhanam,” said a letter from Union Health Ministry when the scheme was launched.
During his speech at the India Today Conclave 2024, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the significant progress in healthcare in Indian villages. However, he also highlighted the lack of sufficient discussion regarding the transformation in the healthcare sector.
Prime Minister Modi mentioned the utilization of Telemedicine to provide healthcare services to the underprivileged in rural areas. He specifically mentioned the e-Sanjivini app, which has facilitated over 24 crore consultations by Indians so far.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the Digital Revolution extends beyond the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and encompasses advancements in healthcare as well.
About this, the Ayushman Arogya Mandir holds great importance among the various temples in India. These mandirs are being digitally linked to larger hospitals to ensure seamless treatment for Indian villagers.