In a landmark development, the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) and Patanjali Yogpeeth’s Yog Gram have signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), enabling free treatment for ex-servicemen and their families at Patanjali. This agreement ensures that there will be no financial cap on the treatment cost for ex-servicemen and their dependents for therapies based on Yoga, Ayurveda, and Naturopathy. The initiative is expected to benefit nearly 60 lakh veterans and their families across the country.
The MoU was formally signed and the documents exchanged between Major General MPS Gill, recipient of the Vishisht Seva Medal and GOC, Uttarakhand Sub Area, and Swami Ramdev at a ceremony held at the mini auditorium of Patanjali University.
Addressing the gathering, Swami Ramdev emphasized that both soldiers and saints serve the nation in their own ways. He expressed gratitude to the Indian Army for giving Patanjali the opportunity to serve its veterans. He urged Major General Gill to consider extending this healthcare arrangement to serving military personnel as well. The General responded positively to the suggestion.
Highlighting Patanjali’s healthcare capabilities, Swami Ramdev shared that more than 3,000 patients are admitted to Patanjali at any given time, with a target to increase the capacity to 5,000 in the near future. He also revealed that Patanjali will soon begin surgical procedures under modern medicine. Ramdev asserted that Yoga and Ayurveda have successfully treated critical conditions such as cancer, blood pressure, spinal issues, diabetes, and heart blockages, with thousands of documented cases.
He explained that while Yoga and Ayurveda strengthen the body, Naturopathy purifies it. This integrated approach, he claimed, forms the foundation of Patanjali’s treatment philosophy.
Major General MPS Gill, the event’s chief guest, acknowledged the long process involved in finalizing the agreement and assured that efforts are underway to include serving soldiers under this scheme as well. He praised Swami Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna for their dedication and called the collaboration a significant step towards holistic healthcare. He said Patanjali’s integration of Yoga, Ayurveda, Naturopathy, and Allopathy offers a comprehensive healing system, comparing it to two tracks of a railway running together in harmony.
Acharya Balkrishna, General Secretary of Patanjali Yogpeeth, also addressed the audience, stating that Patanjali has always believed in innovation. He hailed Swami Ramdev as the unofficial spokesperson of the armed forces and noted that Ayurveda is deeply ingrained in Indian lifestyle—from the use of turmeric, asafoetida, and cumin in daily meals to natural remedies practiced across households. He announced that all ex-servicemen would be given a free Patanjali Swadeshi Samriddhi Card, which includes accident insurance coverage of ₹10 lakh.
The MoU was signed by Colonel Jitendra Kumar, Regional Director of ECHS, Dehradun, and Swami Aryadev Ji, Service Head of Yoggram. Colonel Jitendra Kumar noted that this is the first time an ECHS agreement has been signed between the Indian Army and Patanjali, fulfilling a long-standing demand of veterans for AYUSH-based treatments. The event was successfully coordinated by Dr. Sangeeta Singh.
Distinguished guests included VSM GOC Uttarakhand Sub Area; Brigadier Parikshit Singh, Commandant, Military Hospital, Dehradun; Brigadier G.S. Bhatia, Commandant, Military Hospital, Roorkee; Brigadier K.P. Singh, Commandant, BEG and Centre, Roorkee; Colonel M.S. Bisht, Director, ECHS, Uttarakhand Sub Area; Colonel Satpal Ahlawat, Director, ECHS Polyclinic, Roorkee; Commander Upendra Singh Cheema (Indian Navy), Director, ECHS Polyclinic, Raiwala.
Also in attendance were Patanjali representatives including Sadhvi Devpriya, Sister Anshul, Sister Parul, Brigadier T.C. Malhotra, and Brother Rakesh Kumar, along with unit heads and service chiefs of Patanjali Yogpeeth, and students of BNYS from Patanjali University.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in integrating traditional Indian healing practices with the welfare initiatives of the Indian Armed Forces.
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