The Forest Department has prepared eight lakh medicinal plants in the nurseries of eight forest divisions in Chhattisgarh. This includes Raipur, Dhamtari, Kawardha, South Kondagaon, Surguja, Jagdalpur, Kanker, and Jashpur Forest Division.A special drive will be launched towards the end of this month for free distribution of these saplings under Home Herbal Garden Scheme of Chhattisgarh Medicinal Plant Board.
Schools, colleges, organizations, associations, clubs and civil societies of colonies will be provided saplings of these medicinal plants free of cost.CEO of Chhattisgarh Medicinal Plant Board Pradeep Pant informed that the board will extend full cooperation if any school, college, club or society/civil society of colony is interested in organizing this sapling distribution programme in their premise.
Medicinal plants like Aloe Vera, Neem and others will be distributed for free from Board Office on all government working days from 10 am to 5 pm.A ‘Home Herbal Garden Scheme’ has been launched to create awareness among masses regarding these medicinal plants, which have significance as home remedies for cough-cold, burn injury, wounds, stomach pain, headache and skin-related diseases. These herbal medicines have no side effects on human body.
These saplings can be easily planted in any open space. last year also, the Chhattisgarh State Medicinal Plant Board had conducted special drive for distribution of medicinal plants, which had turned out to be quite successful.last year, a massive push already provided to promote growing of medicinal plants with the Chhattisgarh government launching its ‘Home Herbal Garden Scheme’ for the people of the State.
Chhattisgarh with its massive forest resource has huge potential for supply of medicinal plants to the general public for their kitchen gardens with the prime objective of promoting their health and well being.Under the ‘Home Herbal Garden Scheme,’ medicinal value saplings were distributed to people which they can easily plant in pots or nurseries.
The Chhattisgarh Government has developed an elaborate retail network for medicines made out of forest produce.The Government’s retail network for marketing of these products comprise ‘Non-wood Forest Produce Marts’ which have been opened at six locations in the State besides ‘Sanjeevani Centres’ established in 32 different locations, officials informed.
Other than Raipur, the Sanjeevani Centre retail outlets are being operated at district headquarters of Durg, Bilaspur, Ambikapur, Kanker and Jagdalpur also, they informed.During the last nine years till 2014, forest medicines worth Rs2.17 crore have been sold.in 2013-14, the quantity of products sold increased by three times. The Government's Ayush Department have given license to 102 forest medicines produced by Forest Medicine Processing Centres of state, under Cosmetic and Drug Act, officials stated.
Rich forest resources of Chhattisgarh are now being utilized for commercial manufacturing of valuable Ayurvedic herbal medicines. These forest produce medicines are proving immensely beneficial for cure of various diseases. Moreover, commercial scale manufacturing of forest medicines has also become a source of employment for large number forest dweller families.
The State Government has adopted the policy of utilizing forest resources for creating employment and generating source of income for forest dwellers. As per the policy, Village Forest Committees and Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) collect forest medicines and processing it as per market demand. For this, ‘forest medicine processing units’ are being operated at 5 out of 27 districts of the State. The processed forest medicines have been introduced in the market with attractive packaging and brand name 'Chhattisgarh Herbals'. Products with this brand name are receiving good response from Ayurvedic doctors, patients and customers, officials stated.
Processed forest medicines worth nearly Rs34.77 lakh were sold in previous financial year 2013-14. In year 2005-06 when this retail outlet was started, stock worth Rs11.75 lakh were sold. In the remote forest villages of the State, manufacturing of Ayurvedic medicines is underway in form of small and cottage industry.
These ‘forest produce processing centres’ are being operated by Village Forest Committee in Donganala area of Korba district, by Ma Danteshwari Jyoti Women Self-help Group in village Kurandi (Machkot area) of Bastar (Jagdalpur) district, by the Bhuteshwarnath ‘Forest Medicine Processing Centre’ in village Keshodor of Gariaband district, by Danteshwari Self-help Group of village Panchakki of Jashpur district, by Ma Narmada Self Help Group in village Kenvachi of Bilaspur district, by Yogita Women Self-help Group in village Ataria of Bilaspur district, by Dhanvantri Self Help Group in Narayanpur Headquarters of Narayanpur district.