Lok Sabha Question No. 371 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-21
Subject: Scheme for Cultivation of Medicinal Plants and Herbs
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Jayanta Kumar Roy, Vinod Kumar Sonkar

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 371 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21/07/2023

## 'SCHEME FOR CULTIVATION OF MEDICINALPLANTS AND HERBS'

## 371. DR. JAYANTAKUMAR ROY: SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR: SMT. SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government proposes to implement any scheme for the cultivation of natural herbs and medicinal plants in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- b) the details of the funds allocated for the projects under the scheme during the last three years and the current year, year-wise and State/UT-wise;
- c) whether the Government provides funds for development of infrastructure, research, development and training facilities in the AYUSH system of medicines;
- d) if so, the details thereof; and
- e) the other steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OFAYUSH (SHRI SARBANANDASONOWAL)

- (a) No, Sir. However, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India had implemented Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) to promote the cultivation of medicinal plants from the financial year 2015-16 to 2020-21. As per the scheme guidelines, the support was provided for:
- (i) Cultivation of prioritized medicinal plants on farmer's land.
- (ii) Establishment of nurseries with backward linkages for raising and supply of quality planting material.
- (iii) Post-harvest management with forwarding linkages.
- (iv) Primary processing, marketing infrastructure etc.

Presently, National Medicinal Plants Board, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India is implementing Central Sector Scheme on 'Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants' wherein following activities are supported:

- (i) In-situ conservation / Ex-situ conservation

- (ii) Livelihood linkages with Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) / Panchayats / Van Panchayats / Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) / Self Help Groups (SHGs).
- (iii) IEC activities like Training / workshops / Seminars/ Conferences etc.
- (iv) Research & Development.
- (v) Promotion, marketing and trade of medicinal plants produce.
- (vi) Establishment of nurseries
- (vii) Forward and backward linkage in supply chain of medicinal plants (Integrated component)

Additionally, Under ICAR there is one Institute named as I CAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Research (ICAR-DMAPR) located at Boriavi, Anand, Gujarat which undertakes research on basic, applied and adaptive aspect on medicinal and aromatic plants. It has undertaken management of Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) as a prioritized activity with the effort for collection, conservation, evaluation and documentation of germplasm of medicinal and aromatic plants alongwith development of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) of medicinal plants brought under cultivation and which are of high medicinal and economic value. Further, DMAPR maintains several germplasm/accessions of 20 species of MAPs. Besides, large number of accessions of 54 medicinal and aromatic plants are also maintained at different ICARAICRP centres. Presently DMAPR maintains 2313 germplasm accessions of 20 species of MAPs and 331 accessions of Betelvine. In addition, 5060 number of accessions of 54 medicinal and aromatic plants are maintained at 26 ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Projects (ICAR-AICRP) centres at different Agro-ecological Zones of the country. Multi-location evaluation trials conducted under the AICRP on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants have resulted in the identification and release of twenty five new improved varieties of medicinal plants of fourteen species and seven varieties of aromatic plants of six species.

(b) The details of State-Wise fund allocated from the financial year 2015-16 to 2020-21 for medicinal plants component under National Ayush Mission Scheme (NAM) is at Annexure-I.

(c) to (e) Ministry of Ayush is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) through State/UT Governments for the overall development and promotion of Ayush systems of medicine by providing financial assistance to them through different activities as per the provision of NAM guideline in accordance to the proposal received in their State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs). Under NAM, there are provisions for financial assistance for infrastructure strengthening under following activities : -

- (i) Ayush Health & Wellness Centres.
- (ii) Co-location of Ayush facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs).
- (iii) Upgradation of existing standalone Government Ayush Hospitals.

(iv) Upgradation of existing Government/Panchayat/Government aided Ayush Dispensaries/ Construction of building for existing Ayush Dispensary (Rented/

dilapidated accommodation)/ Construction of building to establish new Ayush Dispensary in the area where there are no Ayush facilities available.

- (v) Setting up of upto 10/30/50 bedded integrated Ayush Hospitals.
- (vi) Establishment of new Ayush colleges in the States where availability of AYUSH teaching institutions is inadequate in Government Sector.
- (vii) Infrastructural development of Ayush Under-Graduate Institutions and Post-Graduate Institutions/ add on PG/ Pharmacy /Para-Medical Courses.

Government of India has setup Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) an autonomous organization for undertaking, coordinating, formulating, developing and promoting research on scientific lines in Ayurveda. The research activities are carried out through 30 institutes/Centres/Units located all over India and through collaborative studies with various universities, hospitals and institutes. Budget allocated is as under:

| Year                  |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |   2022-23 |
|-----------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Budget (Rs. in Crore) |    272.62 |    316.97 |     360.5 |

Ministry of Ayush provides funds for development of infrastructure, research, development and training facilities in the Siddha system of medicines viz intramural research projects (IMR), provision of state of art infrastructure with sophisticated instruments, unit for performing optimal research and development of Siddha system of medicine.

Details of fund utilised for development of infrastructure, research, development for the past three years (in crores):

| Year                  |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |   2022-23 |
|-----------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Budget (Rs. in Crore) |      35.3 |     39.06 |     46.88 |

## Steps taken by CCRS to promote Siddha medicinal research and related activities:

-  Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) is the apex body of research in Siddha system of Medicine. CCRS undertakes the scientific validation of the Siddha System of Medicine through clinical research, drug research, medicinal plants research, fundamental research, literary research and documentation.
-  Central Council for Research in Siddha has granted 75 IMR projects and out of this 8 IMR projects have been completed.
-  54 books, 10 Patents and 650 scientific research articles have been published by CCRS.
-  CCRS is equipped with state of the art infrastructure with sophisticated instruments and facilities in the following Departments: Department of Clinical Research, Department of Biochemistry, Department of Pathology, Radiology, Department of Chemistry, Department of Pharmacognosy etc., to carry out IMR projects and other associated research work.

-  The Council is engaged in multifaceted research activities. In the area of clinical research, pre-clinical Pharmacological / Toxicological studies, open label trials, multi-centric Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) are being conducted for acute and chronic diseases. The main emphasis is on diseases of national health priority with a view to develop safe and effective Siddha treatments.
-  In addition, an MoU with Accelerating Growth of New India Innovation (AGNIi) for the commercialization of R&D technologies and products developed by CCRS.
-  Council is also engaged in national collaboration with reputed scientific organization and medical institutions / Universities on diseases of national priorities.

Additionally, National Institute of Siddha is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush that conducts UG degree, PG degree and Ph.D., in Siddha. Ministry of Ayush has sanctioned Rs. 37 crore under capital head for infrastructure development and Rs.38.29 crore under general head for Institute's activities including research, development and training facilities under Siddha system of Medicine for the financial year 2023-2024.

Government of India has setup Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) and allocated Rs. 175.05 Crore for development of infrastructure and research in the Unani system of medicines during the financial year 2022-23.

Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy is an apex body for scientific research in homoeopathy under the Ministry of AYUSH undertakes research activities such as clinical research, drug proving, drug verification, drug standardization, fundamental research and epidemic research either in intramural mode or in collaboration with different institutes of repute. CCRH has been funded centrally by the Ministry of Ayush and the expenditure is centrally managed. The funds allocated during the last three years and the current year is given below:

| Year       | 2020-21    | 2021-22    | 2022-23    |
|------------|------------|------------|------------|
| Allocation | 130.50 Cr. | 143.58 Cr. | 143.70 Cr. |

CCRH has strengthened its infrastructure in terms of having own buildings, developing new laboratories, upgrading of existing laboratories in terms of equipment for undertaking high end research studies in the area of clinical, pre-clinical/ fundamental/ basic research.

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## Annexure-I

## The details of funds allocated to the states under Medicinal Plants Component of ' National Ayush Mission ' (NAM) Scheme from the Financial Year 2015-16 to 2020-21

(Rs. in lakh)

|   S. No | Name of State       |   2015-16 |   2016-17 |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |   Total |
|---------|---------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|---------|
|       1 | Andhra Pradesh      |   133.924 |   193.165 |   213.158 |    128.6  |     317   |     305.5 | 1291.35 |
|       2 | Arunachal Pradesh   |    25.032 |    45.031 |    61.111 |     36.9  |      48.7 |      59.9 |  276.67 |
|       3 | Assam               |   158.971 |   175.37  |   392.284 |    236.7  |     313.9 |     453.9 | 1731.13 |
|       4 | Andaman &Nicobar    |    19.489 |    40.802 |    68.922 |     41.6  |      43.4 |      50.3 |  264.51 |
|       5 | Bihar               |   396.061 |   691.887 |   659.83  |    398.2  |     857.3 |    1258.6 | 4261.88 |
|       6 | Chandigarh          |    92.554 |    36.445 |    88.397 |     53.3  |      36.7 |      45.4 |  352.8  |
|       7 | Chhattisgarh        |   152.705 |   217.942 |   178.646 |    107.8  |     343.7 |     467.8 | 1468.59 |
|       8 | Dadra &Nagar Haveli |    38     |    58.619 |    43.581 |     26.3  |      22.9 |      33.2 |  222.6  |
|       9 | Daman &Diu          |    48.819 |    69.048 |    38.721 |     23.4  |      22.9 |      33.2 |  202.89 |
|      10 | Delhi               |    52.86  |    45.422 |   152.47  |     55.2  |      68.6 |      51.1 |  425.65 |
|      11 | Gujarat             |   168.141 |   219.886 |   185.05  |    111.7  |     380.4 |     547.5 | 1612.68 |
|      12 | Goa                 |    69.862 |    41.606 |    38.115 |     23    |      38.1 |      46.4 |  257.08 |
|      13 | Haryana             |   106.131 |   122.627 |   166.01  |    100.2  |     342.9 |     306   | 1143.87 |
|      14 | Himachal Pradesh    |    62.115 |    60.036 |    75.783 |     45.7  |     128.9 |     142.7 |  515.23 |
|      15 | Jammu &Kashmir      |    59.336 |    93.276 |    80.392 |     48.5  |     106.5 |      66.6 |  454.6  |
|      16 | Jharkhand           |   144.14  |   262.674 |   235.537 |    142.1  |     441.1 |     454.6 | 1680.15 |
|      17 | Karnataka           |   137.27  |   233.208 |   247.465 |    149.3  |     243.4 |     408.8 | 1419.44 |
|      18 | Kerala              |   126.562 |   169.608 |   269.787 |    162.8  |     237   |     405.3 | 1371.06 |
|      19 | Ladakh              |     0     |     0     |     0     |      0    |       0   |      28.5 |   28.5  |
|      20 | Lakshadweep         |    37.478 |    58.104 |    27.971 |     16.91 |      22.9 |      25.9 |  189.26 |
|      21 | Madhya Pradesh      |   306.973 |   499.847 |   450.651 |    271.9  |     564.9 |     970.9 | 3065.17 |
|      22 | Maharashtra         |   205.972 |   373.846 |   355.725 |    214.7  |     413.9 |     599   | 2163.14 |
|      23 | Manipur             |    60.896 |    73.38  |    90.341 |     54.5  |      46.4 |      84.6 |  410.12 |
|      24 | Meghalaya           |    38.757 |    55.348 |    91.576 |     55.3  |      46.1 |      65.2 |  352.28 |
|      25 | Mizoram             |    43.806 |    44.345 |    97.568 |     58.9  |      25.4 |      43.3 |  313.32 |
|      26 | Nagaland            |    60.502 |    53.493 |   104.669 |     63.2  |      82.8 |      75.5 |  440.16 |
|      27 | Orissa              |   187.726 |   308.835 |   297.518 |    179.5  |     356.7 |     521.8 | 1852.08 |
|      28 | Punjab              |    89.625 |   150.301 |   104.201 |     62.9  |     148.4 |     219.6 |  775.03 |
|      29 | Puducherry          |    20.075 |    23.191 |    38.115 |     13.8  |      22.9 |      20.7 |  138.78 |
|      30 | Rajasthan           |   264.413 |   474.86  |   503.22  |    303.7  |     533.4 |     832.8 | 2912.39 |
|      31 | Sikkim              |    30.789 |    32.172 |    25.41  |     15.3  |      25.4 |      42.2 |  171.27 |
|      32 | Tamil Nadu          |   144.452 |   252.725 |   286.666 |    173    |     306   |     470.2 | 1633.04 |
|      33 | Telangana           |   111.35  |   150.835 |   119.135 |     71.9  |     177.9 |     323.1 |  954.22 |
|      34 | Tripura             |    36.864 |    54.522 |    77.281 |     46.6  |      59.3 |      77.8 |  352.37 |

| 35   | Uttar Pradesh   |   720.119 |   1241.326 |   1238.718 |   753.300 |   1526.00 |   2278.20 |   7757.66 |
|------|-----------------|-----------|------------|------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 36   | Uttarakhand     |    60.989 |     70.024 |    130.148 |     78.5  |     182.2 |     212.6 |    734.46 |
| 37   | West Bengal     |   180.811 |    318.86  |    348.76  |    210.5  |     397.9 |     638.3 |   2095.13 |
|      | Total           |  4593.57  |   7012.67  |   7582.93  |   4535.71 |    8931.9 |   12633.8 |  45290.6  |