Lok Sabha Question No. 2911 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-12
Subject: Use of Ayurvedic Products during COVID-19
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH)

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 2911 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH March, 2021

## USE OF AYURVEDIC PRO DUCTS DURING COVID - 19

## 2911. SHRI BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA:

Will  the  Minister  of AYURVEDA,  YOGA  AND NATUROPATHY,  UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY(AYUSH) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Ayurvedic products like Giloy have helped to improve the immunity of people during the Corona pandemic thereby reducin g the Government and people's expenditure on allopathic drugs;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to increase the production of herbs including Giloy to be used in Ayurvedic drugs in future; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS AND ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVE DA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

( a) &(b): The Ministry of AYUSH has formed an Inter - disciplinary AYUSH R&D Task Force  chaired  by  Prof.  Bhushan  Patwardhan and  having  representation  from  scientists including Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Biotechnology(DBT), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), All India Institute of Medical S (AIIMS) and AYUSH Institutions.The Interdisciplinary AYUSH Research and Development  Task  Force  has  formulated  and  designed  clinical  research  protocols  f prophylactic studies and add - on interventions in COVID - 19 positive cases through thorough review and consultative process of expert s of high repute from different organizations across the  country  for  studying  four  different  interventions  viz.  Ashwagandha,  Yashtima Guduchi + Pippali and a poly herbal formulation (AYUSH - 64).The task force have taken up the  proposals  received  from  sc reening  committees  of  Councils  and  proactively  explored possibilities  based  on  available  leads.  Ministry  of  AYUSH  has  constituted  core  grou experts  under  the  Chairmanship  of  Prof.  Bhushan  Patwardhan  to  identify  and  propo formulations on COVID - 19 whic h are in line with Classical Ayurveda principles and have substantial leads on COVID - 19 viz. one for prophylaxis as immunomodulatory, another for management  of  COVID- 19  with  antiviral  properties  and  one  product  for  post  COVID - 19 care.

Ministry  of  AYUSH  ha s  launched  interdisciplinary  studies  involving  AYUSH interventions  for  COVID - 19  based  on  recommendations  of  Task  force.  Under  various research  organizations  and  National  Institutes  under  Ministry  of  AYUSH,  112  resea studies  at  141  centres  in  the  country are  being  conducted  on  AYUSH  interventions  as prophylactic interventions.

( c) &( d) : Government has established National Medicinal Plant Board with the objecti promotion, cultivation and marketing of medicinal plants. Government of India has an ced 4000  crore  package  under  Atma  Nirbhar  Bharat  for  Promotion  of  Herbal  Cultivation. Ministry of AYUSH has prepared a scheme namely Pradhan Mantri VRIKSH AYUSH Yojana' for cultivation and marketing of medicinal plants.

Under  'Central  Sponsored  Scheme  of  Medicinal  Plants'  component  of  National Ayush  Mission  the  government  is  supporting  market  driven  cultivation  of  priorit medicinal  plants  in  identified  cluster/zones  with  in  selected  districts  of  Sta implemented in a mission mode throughout the country.  As per the scheme guidelines, the support is provided for:

- (i) Cultivation of prioritized medicinal plants on farmer's land.
- (ii) Establishment of nurseries with backward linkages for raising and supply quality planting material.
- (iii) Post - harvest manag ement with forward linkages.
- (iv) Primary processing, marketing infrastructure etc.

Under this scheme, subsidy @30%, 50% and 75% of cost of its cultivation is provid for  cultivation  of  140  prioritized  medicinal  plants  on  farmer's  land.  In  the  same  scheme, M inistry of AYUSH is providing subsidy for cultivation of Giloe on farmer's land throughout the country @30% of its cultivation cost per hectare i.e. Rs. 48133.31/ - .