Air pollution is one of the aggravating factors for respiratory ailments and associated diseases, however, there are no conclusive data available to establish direct correlation of disease exclusively due to air pollution. Health effects of air pollution are synergistic manifestation of factors which include food habits, occupational habits, socioeconomic status, medical history, immunity and heredity etc. of the individuals.

A Technical Expert Group has been constituted under the chairpersonship of Director General of Directorate General of Health Services to provide specialized expert guidance and recommendations on specific technical issues pertaining to Chronic Respiratory Diseases (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) & Asthma).

Government of India has taken several steps to address air pollution issues which are at Annexure.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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Annexure

Government of India has taken several steps to address air pollution issues across the country. These include:

1.                                                    Implementation of National Programme for Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) with the objective to create awareness, capacity building, health sector preparedness and response and partnerships related activities on the climate sensitive health issues in the country since 2019;

1. NPCCHH, MoHFW has developed the Health Adaptation Plan for diseases due to Air Pollution which illustrates focusing the institutional structural and functional mechanisms at various levels in the state. The States/UTs utilise the guidelines undertaking health related planning and responses on air pollution related matters in the state. The link for the Health adaptation plan is as below:

https://ncdc.mohfw.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1.Health-Adaptation-Plan-for-Disease-Due-to-Air-Pollutios-2021.pdf

2. Government has developed State Action Plan on Climate Change & Human Health for all 36 State/UTs. This State specific action plan contains dedicated chapter on Air Pollution which suggests interventions to reduce the impact.

• III. The Government issues Public Health advisories to State/UTs suggesting ways to reduce the impact of Air Pollution.
• IV. Nationwide Public Awareness Campaigns are organized in coordination with States annually for World Environment Day (June), International Day of Clean Air for blue skies (September) and National Pollution Control Day (December).

5. Dedicated training modules have been developed in area of Air Pollution for Programme Managers, Medical Officers & Nurses, Nodal Officers Sentinel sites, Frontline workers like ASHA, vulnerable groups like women & Children, occupationally exposed groups like Traffic Police, Municipal worker

• VI. IEC materials have been developed targeting Air Pollution related illnesses in both English, Hindi and also regional languages. NPCCHH has also developed customized IEC materials targeting various vulnerable groups such as School Children, Women, Occupational vulnerable groups like Municipality workers, etc.

7. Series of National Level Capacity Building workshops have been conducted annually to prepare Master Trainers (State level Trainers) who can cascade down the training at State/District level in the areas of Air pollution related illnesses and Surveillance. NPCCHH also supported various State Level Trainings to build capacity of District Nodal Officer on the domain areas of Air pollution
8. Early warning system/Alerts for Air Pollution as well as Air Quality forecasts are disseminated from Indian Meteorological Department to States and Indian Cities to prepare the Health sector as well as Community including vulnerable population.

2.                                       Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) aims to safeguard the health of women & children by providing them with a clean cooking fuel Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG).

3.               Swachh Bharat Mission promotes to clean up streets, roads and infrastructure of India's cities, smaller towns, and rural areas. Swachh Hawa is an integral component of Swachh Bharat.

4.        Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched National Clean Air program in 2019 as a national level strategy to reduce air pollution levels across the country.

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SR

HFW/Steps taken to Address Health Issues due to Air Pollution/10 February 2026/4