There could be endless mythology on the significance of what grows in the dense jungles. But the ones who understand their use, live right amidst the woods fragrant with flowers and herbs the world discovers after centuries to be having the key to curing a wide set of health ailments.
However, it’s just not the issue of health ailments. Chhattigarh’s forests are revealing a wider bouquet of herbs to the outside world from the ingenuity of the forest dwellers who have learned to market them effectively.
The forest dwellers of Gariaband had a similar story to showcase and it is right here—The Government knew the treasure trove of herbs in the forests of Gariaband's jungles and as the Chief Minister Raman Singh’s Vikas Yatra reached the region, hoardes of employees and officers met these forest dwellers to pick up the wild flowers, herbs and pure honey they could never imagine getting in the urban areas.
The list could be endless but here is a sample—Pure honey for Rs 150 for half-a-kilogram, oil comprising mixture of 72 herbs, tulsi (basil) powder and powdered ‘kalmeth’ which these forest dwellers believe when had with jaggery could treat fever.
These forest dwellers also had wild flowers and branches besides carefully picked herbs from the jungles to offer to the buyers.
They all sat with loads of gifts straight from nature for these buyers.
To tell a fact-- Interestingly, the demand had been brisk in the region even earlier from the Bhuteshwarnath Group that they had to install a filering machine for honey in Keshdaar.
The Group also employs some of the locals who manage the accounts when the forest dwellers bring the herbs to the unit. The unit has license for manufacturing a total of 12 herbal medicines with markets even in Raipur, Durg and Kanker besides other parts of the State.
And it’s all about a jungle story being wrapped up—It’s a case of not just a bag now filled with tendu patta. It also contains the much sought after wild flowers growing in the wilderness.