Lok Sabha Question No. 5672 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: National Health Fair
Ministry: AYUSH
Asked by: Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske, Shri Atul Garg, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne, Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5672 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2026

'National Health Fair'

## 5672. Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar:

Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde:

Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne:

Shri Atul Garg:

Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske:

Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:

a) whether the Government has organised initiatives such as National Health Fairs to promote public awareness about health and traditional medicinal resources particularly in Maharashtra,

if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether steps have been taken to encourage the preservation and cultivation of medicinal plants and traditional health practices;

- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d)

whether assessments

have been

made  regarding the

integrating medicinal

plant conservation with mainstream healthcare programmes, if so, the details thereof and if not, the

reasons for the same;

(e)  the  details  of  the  measures  undertaken  by  the  Government to involve communities and institutions in preservation efforts; and

(f) the details of the expected impact on preventive healthcare, biodiversity and community health outcomes?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) The Ministry of Ayush organized the National Arogya Fair to promote public awareness about health and traditional medicinal resources across India, including Maharashtra. Recently, a National Arogya Fair was held in Maharashtra from 25th to 28th February 2026. The National Medicinal  Plants  Board  (NMPB),  under  the  Ministry  of Ayush,  participated  in  the  event through its Regional Cum Facilitation Centre (RCFC), Western Region, in collaboration with the  State  Medicinal  Plants  Board  (SMPB),  Maharashtra. A  dedicated  stall  was  set  up  to disseminate knowledge and promote awareness about Indian medicinal plants. The exhibition focused on enhancing public understanding of medicinal plants, strengthening documentation practices, and fostering greater stakeholder engagement within the Ayush ecosystem.

(b) & (c) The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush under its 'Central Sector  Scheme  on  Conservation,  Development  and  Sustainable  Management  of  Medicinal Plants'  have  provided  project  based  support  to  State  Forest  Departments  for  In-situ conservation/preservation of medicinal plants in their natural habitats by way of establishment of Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas (MPCDAs).

(d) No assessments have been made regarding integrating medicinal plant conservation with mainstream healthcare programmes. However, the National Medicinal Plants Board supported a demand and supply study through the Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun, entitled 'Medicinal Plants in India: As assessment of their Demand and Supply' by G.S. Goraya & D.K. Ved published in the year 2017. As per the study, the annual demand of herbs/medicinal plants in the country was estimated to be about 512000 Metric Ton in 201415. As per the study about 1178 medicinal plants species are recorded in practices of trade, out of which 242 species are traded in high volume with an estimate of more than 100 MT per annum. The study was published in 2017 and is available on the website of NMPB.

(e) Under the above scheme, to promote rural livelihood, project based support is also provided through  State  Forest  Departments  to  forest  fringe  communities  (Joint  Forest  Management Committees/Panchayats/Van Panchayat/SHGs/BMCs etc.) for setting of local cluster for value addition,  drying,  warehousing  and  augmenting  marketing  infrastructure,  etc.  and  generate livelihood. For sustainable harvesting and there by preservation of medicinal plants in wild, training on GFCPs is also provided to these communities through RCFCs of NMPB.

(f)  NMPB,  Ministry  of  Ayush  is  supporting  projects  for  research  and  development  for medicinal plants activities and provision to support projects for species specific campaign to make awareness about health benefits.

***