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, forest medicines worth Rs 2.17 crore have been sold. last year, the quantity of products sold increased by three times. The State government's Ayush Department have given license to 102 forest medicines produced by Forest Medicine Processing Centres of State, under Cosmetic and
Drug Act.
Rich forest resources of Chhattisgarh are now being utilised 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 utilising 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.