Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 19 2010:
When the State Medicinal Plants Board (SMPB) under the state Health and Family Welfare Department comes out with expected result to the assignments entrusted to it nine year back, Manipur government is considering for transfer of the same to the Forest Department.
The SMPB in the state was set up nine year back since the establishment of National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) in November 2000.The board is among the 32 boards set up in the country and working under the state Health and Family Welfare Department to facilitate successful implementation of the programme and promotion of medicinal plant sector.
Manipur has distinction of possession a wide range of forest types.
The forests of Manipur are repository of large varieties of medicinal plants.
Out of 6000 varieties of medicinal plants reportedly found in India, Manipur has about 1200 varieties.
Manipur has huge potential in medicinal plants sector for creating livelihood systems and economically viable and sustainable employment opportunities.
In a Buyers and Sellers Meet organised on February 22-23, 2010 at Imphal, important companies like Dabur, Himalaya and Natural Remedies etc.
showed interest in the business propositions on medicinal plants in the state.
Though, there is large scale collection of medicinal plants from the forest of Manipur which are traded and consumed locally, government thinks that there is the need to tap this potential.
The State (Manipur) Medicinal Plant Board (SMPB) was among the state level boards established under the National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) to formulate and coordinate all matters pertaining to the medicinal plants sector in India.
The SMPB constituted under the state Health and Family Welfare Department has been assigned the responsibilities to formulate action plan and strategy of the respective states, facilitate formulation of projects, implementation and monitoring of the project to be funded by the NMPB and other agencies in medicinal plant sector.
While the Central Sponsored Scheme on National Mission on Medicinal Plants is being implemented by the Manipur Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation.
But, noting down that the SMPB could not come out with a satisfactory achievement in this sector and implementation of the scheme is also not upto the expected level, Manipur government is considering for transfer of the SMPB to state forest department, an official source maintained.
The source observed that state Forest Department has good skilled manpower for carrying out the works of SMPB and its division/range/beat offices are located in all parts of the state including remote areas.
Besides this, the department is managing forests of the state including medicinal plants in its natural habit.
It has also establishing model and small nurseries, medicinal plant conservation area and herbal gardens in different parts of the state.
At the same time, in due appreciation of the need for giving boost to this sector, secretary, department of AYUSH of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also requested Manipur Chief Secretary to ensure that the State Medicinal Plants Board is brought under Forest Department and is active in the field.
The transfer of the SMPB to Forest Department may go a long way in effective and comprehensive implementation of Central Sector Scheme of NMPB, the source observed.