Botanical Survey of India (BSI) an organization working under Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, who are mandated for survey of plant diversity of the country; its documentation, including traditional knowledge associated with it at National, Regional, State and Ecosystem level and its conservation in different parts of the country has been carrying out survey and documentation of all plant resources of the country including medicinal / aromatic plants and herbs.  The survey is the nodal repository for Reference Plant Collections and at present houses about 3.2 million specimens in its different herbaria, which help in taxonomic characterization and monitoring of species, including medicinal plants.  It is estimated that, more than 8,000 species of medicinal herbs and medicinal plants are found in the country.

A study was got conducted by the National Medicinal Plants Board of Department of AYUSH through the Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Tradition (FRLHT), Bangalore.  According to the report of study published in year 2008, total traded quantity of medicinal plants in the country was estimated to be about 3.19 lakhs metric tonnes for the year 2005-06.  In all, 960 medicinal plants are traded; out of which 178 species have annual consumption of more than 100 metric tonnes (MTs).  However, State / UT-wise findings are not available in this regard.

According to the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), no hard core data on the extent of threat to the medicinal plants is readily available.  Out of 19156 species of vascular plants (Angiosperms-17817; Gymnosperms – 74; Pteridophytes – 1265), about 70 medicinal and aromatic plants species are threatened due to various anthropogenic activities.

Various measures have already been taken in this direction which includes the following:

·        Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) constituent laboratories, namely CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow; CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu; CSIR-North East Institute of Science & Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat; and CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bio resource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur undertake studies related to (i) survey, collection and inventorization of medicinal and aromatic plants from different phytogeographical regions of India; (ii) development of improved varieties; and (iii) development of agro technologies and processing technologies for economically important medicinal and aromatic plants and their value addition.  The laboratories are disseminating the technologies among farmers and entrepreneurs through training-cum-demonstration programmes.

·        Research Councils working under Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare viz. Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Central Council for Research in Unani Medicines (CCRUM) and Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) have been conducting studies through surveys and explorations to collect information regarding availability of medicinal and aromatic plants / herbs in various States and have documented information in this regard.

·        With the purpose of conserving& promoting medicinal plants utilized in the traditional systems of medicines, the Government has set up Medicinal Plants Board vide Resolution notified on 24^th November, 2000 under Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.  Important functions of the Board include Co-ordination with Ministries / Departments / Organizations / State / UT Government for development of medicinal plants sector. 

Following schemes implemented by National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) during 11^th Plan for overall development of medicinal plants sector in the States have so far been continued:

(i) Central Sector Scheme for “Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants”:

Under this Scheme support is provided for undertaking activities on Survey, Inventorization, in-situ conservation, ex-situ conservation / herbal gardens, linkage with JFMCs, Research and Development etc. on Medicinal Plants.  Information regarding financial assistance which includes the technical components viz. capacity building of all stakeholders, provided under the Scheme during last three years and the current year, State / UT-wise details is given below:-

Information regarding release of funds to the different States under Central Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants

(In lakhs)

(ii) Centrally Sponsored Scheme of “National Mission on Medicinal Plants”:

This scheme is primarily aimed at supporting cultivation of medicinal plants on private land with backwards linkages for establishment of nurseries, for supply of quality planting material etc.  and forward linkages for post-harvest management, marketing infrastructure, certification etc. in a mission mode. Information regarding financial assistance provided under the Scheme during last three years and the current year, State / UT-wise is details is given below:-

Information regarding release of funds to the different States under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Mission on Medicinal Plants

(In lakhs)

The Health Minister stated this in a written reply in the LokSabha here today.

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MV/BK