The Minister of State for Health, Prataprao Jadhav, informed the Lok Sabha on Friday that while air pollution contributes to respiratory diseases, there is no definitive data in India to establish a direct link between specific diseases and air pollution. The effects of air pollution are influenced by various factors, such as diet, occupation, socioeconomic status, medical history, immunity, and genetics, Jadhav explained in a written response.

While air pollution worsens respiratory health conditions, no conclusive evidence in India confirms a direct cause-and-effect relationship between pollution and specific diseases. The Ministry of Health supports state and union territories with financial and technical assistance to strengthen public healthcare systems, based on proposals under the National Health Mission. This support also covers the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health, which aims to increase awareness among vulnerable communities, healthcare providers, and policymakers about the health impacts of climate change and ways to address them.

The Indian government has implemented the National Programme for Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) since 2019 to raise awareness, build capacity, and prepare the health sector for climate-sensitive health issues. This includes the development of health adaptation plans for diseases related to air pollution and state-level action plans for climate change and human health, with specific measures to mitigate air pollution's impact.

The Ministry of Health issues public health advisories and organizes national awareness campaigns for events like World Environment Day, International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, and National Pollution Control Day. Special training modules have been created for medical officers, frontline workers, and vulnerable groups, with materials available in multiple languages. Additionally, capacity-building workshops are conducted to train state-level trainers on air pollution-related health issues and surveillance.

The Indian Meteorological Department issues air quality forecasts and alerts to help states and health centers prepare for air pollution events. Initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which provides clean cooking fuel to women and children, and the Swachh Bharat Mission, including the Swachh Hawa initiative, contribute to improving public health and reducing pollution exposure. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the National Clean Air Programme in 2019 to tackle air pollution on a national scale.

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