National workshop on medicinal plant kicks off
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 16 2015:
A two-day national workshop on "Sustainable Development of Medicinal Plants Sector in North Eastern India" organised by Forest Department, Govern-ment of Manipur in association with National Medicinal Plants Board, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India began at Jubilee Hall of RIMS, Lamphelpat on Monday.
The inaugural function of the workshop was attended by Chief Secretary of Manipur PC Lawmkunga as Chief Guest and Secretary of Ministry of AYUSH Nilanjan Sanyal as President, while former Governor of Chhattisgarh Shekhar Dutt attended as Guest of Honour.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Secretary Lawm-kunga said that Manipur in particular and Northeast in general is home to varieties of medicinal plants, and people need to investigate on the medicinal plants.
He further said that approximately 1200 varieties of medicinal plants grow in Manipur and it is giving importance to development of the medicinal plant sector.
For medicinal plants the country is looking at Northeast and in that Manipur occupies a vital position due to India's Look East Policy and to explore the full advantage of medicinal plants an office of AYUSH has been opened at Lamphelpat, the Chief Secretary added.
Touching on the commer-cial value of medicinal plant, Secretary to Ministry of AYUSH Nilanjan Sanyal elucidated that the medicinal plants do not have any value until the medicinal values are used for medicines or drugs.
He also stressed on the importance of conservation of medicinal plants in Northeast, and affirmed that Ministry of AYUSH is committed to funding the medicinal plants sector in North Eastern states and will give top priority for projects for the North Eastern States.
The inaugural event was followed by technical session where scholars coming from different parts of India deliberated on different areas of medicinal plants.