Air pollution and deaths: The Centre told the Rajya Sabha that there is no conclusive countrywide data to establish a direct correlation between deaths or disease exclusively due to air pollution.
Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav, in a written reply, said air pollution is a triggering factor for respiratory ailments and related conditions, but multiple overlapping factors influence it. These include food and occupational habits, socioeconomic status, medical history, immunity and heredity.
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The minister said the government has taken several steps to address the health risks linked to poor air quality. He highlighted the National Programme for Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH), implemented since 2019, which focuses on awareness, capacity building, health-sector preparedness and partnerships for climate-sensitive health issues.
Under the programme, the government has developed a Health Adaptation Plan dealing with air pollution and prepared State Action Plans on climate change and human health for all 36 states and Union Territories. These plans include state-specific interventions to reduce the impact of air pollution.
Jadhav said the Health Ministry also issues public health advisories to states and UTs and runs annual awareness campaigns around key observance days, including World Environment Day, the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, and National Pollution Control Day.
The minister added that dedicated training modules on air pollution have been created for programme managers, medical officers, nurses, nodal officers, frontline workers such as ASHAs, and vulnerable or occupationally exposed groups, including women, children, traffic police and municipal workers.
He said early warning alerts and air quality forecasts from the India Meteorological Department are shared with states and cities to help prepare the health system and communities, particularly vulnerable populations.
The reply also cited broader national initiatives with health co-benefits, including the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, the Swachh Bharat Mission with its Swachh Hawa component, and the National Clean Air Programme, launched in 2019 by the Environment Ministry.
