Delhi RWA's get Herbal Gardens for improving Urban Health Solutions
New Delhi, INDIA: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) with support from National Medicinal Plants Board, (NMPB), Govt. of India, launched the Home Herbal Garden (HHG) Project, in Delhi – NCR area to fill the critical void in the area of herbal resource development and extension activities with the overall objective to sensitize community awareness on ‘Herbal Medicine and Herbal Gardens.’
“Herbal and Botanic Gardens can play a key role in protecting all our herbal plants for the future. TERI’s initiative highlights the importance of plants and the ecosystem services they provide for all life on earth, with a focus on biodiversity and human wellbeing.” said Dr RK Pachauri, Director General of TERI.
Addressing members of the RWA’s, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said, “The Delhi Govt is already in process to develop biodiversity parks and a sprawling 170 acre land has been allotted for the same near Dabur, outskirts of Delhi. Along with those 17 new forest areas have been identified for growing medicinal and decorative plants. It is through organizations such as TERI that we are able to revive our traditional medicinal system and move towards human-wellness. This imitative will not only revive the traditional medical system, but would also make a huge difference to the atmosphere of Delhi, that has over the years improved with such initiatives.”
Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare said, “Developing the medicinal industry which is expected to be worth $5 trillion by 2050, is the ministries top most priority. An Rs120 crore system called ‘Golden Triangle for Scientific validation of Indian Medicines’ especially for Ayurveda and Siddha medicines is being propagated by the ministry and we rely on time-tested institutes such as TERI for such activities to be successful.”
Under the aegis of this project, residents of New Delhi would be encouraged and assisted to grow selected medicinal plants such as Tulsi, Brahmi, Ashwangandha, Mint, Lemon grass, Aloe Vera, Asparagus and Manduk Parni, within their homes, complexes and vacant area, to use them as herbal remedies for minor ailments. “People using these plants may find a noticeable improvement in their general well being and we are planning to tieup with Mother Dairy booths and NDMC nurseries to sell these plants at very nominal rates” said Mr. BS Sajwan CEO, NMPD.
“The first phase of the Home Herbal Gardens Programme would be operationalized with the help of selected 100-150 RWAs in south and south-west district of New Delhi in which the medicinal plants raised at TERI’s Gual Pahari Complex, would be distributed at nominal cost to the residents through RWAs. Select residents, especially senior citizens and women, will be trained in the maintenance of these plants and their use in primary health care” said Dr PP Bhojvaid, Senior Fellow, TERI.
The community outreach programme for Home Herbal Gardens will bring about awareness among local residents about the conservation and sustainable use of medicinal and aromatic plants. In addition, it will have the following societal impacts.
- It will conserve the plant resources used in Indian systems of medicine
- It will demonstrate the contemporary relevance of the theory and practice of Indian systems of medicine
- It will revitalize social processes (institutional, commercial, and verbal) for transmitting traditional knowledge about health care, leading to its wider use and application in the NCR (national capital region)
Plants, which will be promoted under the HHG, have been selected with great care. They are easy to maintain, require minimal space, have medicinal value and are safe and effective, besides having aesthetic value as well. One can grow these plants in different ways—in pots, trays, polythene bags, or decorative baskets.
Source: IndiaPRwire.com
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