New Delhi : The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, has made significant strides in promoting mental well-being through its Public Health Initiative (PHI) project titled “Stress Management by Ayurveda Intervention for Police Personnel,” launched during the pandemic. The initiative has so far reached 35,704 police personnel, marking a notable achievement for the institute.
Director of AIIA, Pradeep Kumar Prajapati, emphasised that mental health is as crucial as physical health. Referring to the definition by the World Health Organization, he highlighted that mental well-being enables individuals to cope with life’s stresses, work productively, and contribute meaningfully to society.
The project is spearheaded by Medha Kulkarni as Principal Investigator and Meena Deogade as Co-Principal Investigator. As part of the initiative, the team has also developed a dedicated mobile application focused on stress management.
Atul Katiyar, Special Commissioner of Police (Welfare Division), Delhi Police, lauded the initiative, acknowledging Ayurveda’s holistic healing approach and expressing appreciation for AIIA’s efforts.
Speaking about the programme, Prof. Meena Deogade noted that police personnel often face intense physical and psychological pressures, making them highly susceptible to stress-related conditions. She said the project adopts a preventive and therapeutic approach rooted in Ayurveda, with encouraging outcomes demonstrating its effectiveness.
Under the initiative, 206 camps were organised, screening 7,752 police personnel for stress, hypertension, and related health issues. Of these, 1,843 individuals received Ayurvedic treatment, including internal medications and therapies such as Shirodhara. The Welfare Department of Delhi Police supported the project by providing venues for the camps.
To disseminate the findings, AIIA organised a one-day workshop on March 24, 2026, in New Delhi. The event was attended by Atul Katiyar as Chief Guest and Koustubha Upadhyaya, Advisor at the Ministry of AYUSH, as Guest of Honour. The session was presided over by Director Pradeep Kumar Prajapati, with participation from experts including Suneela Garg.
The workshop featured expert sessions by Sajeena A. of the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Folk Medicine Research and Anupama Krishnan from VPSV Ayurveda College, focusing on stress management through Ayurveda-based practices.
The initiative and workshop together underscored the growing role of Ayurveda in addressing occupational stress, particularly among high-risk professions such as police personnel.