Raja Syed Rather
New Delhi, Feb 06 : The Centre on Thursday informed the Parliament that 351 Jan Aushadhi Kendras, under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, are operational in Jammu and Kashmir, while only three are functional in Ladakh.
In a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Jagat Prakash Nadda, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that 351 Jan Aushadhi Kendras are currently functional in Jammu and Kashmir, with 32 centres being closed till December 31, 2025 .
The Minister said that across the country, 17,990 Jan Aushadhi Kendras are functional, while 3,135 have been shut down so far.
He added that the government has set a target of opening 25,000 JAKs by March 2027, including in remote and hilly regions such as Ladakh.
To promote expansion in difficult areas, the Centre provides a one-time incentive of Rs 2 lakh for setting up Jan Aushadhi Kendras in Himalayan regions, island territories and aspirational districts. Online applications are open for all districts, including those in Ladakh, through the PMBJP portal, the Minister said.
On the closure of several centres nationwide, the government said Jan Aushadhi Kendras operate on a franchise-based model, and closures occur due to low sales, personal reasons of owners or logistical issues.
The implementing agency, PMBI, is providing hand-holding support to revive low-performing centres, including in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh—(KNO)
