Rajasthan: 'Ghar Ghar Aushadhi Yojna' falls flat in second year of its execution

JAIPUR:: The ‘Ghar Ghar Aushadhi Yojna’, a scheme started with much fanfare in 2021, to promote medicinal herbs with multiple health benefits has been downsized in the second year of implementation.
The forest department had planned to distribute 1.26 crore (as per the 2011 Census) medicinal plants in five years.
Sources said, after the scheme was found ‘unfeasible’ on many fronts it was altered by the department.
Under the scheme, in five years the department targeted to distribute medicinal plants including kalmegh, tulsi, giloy and ashwagandha.
The forest divisions across the state were directed to distribute eight saplings in first year to half of the families (63 lakhs) and cover remaining families in 2022.
Sources said, “The target of the forest divisions has been reduced to 25%. Also, it was mandatory to provide two plants of each species to all the residents. Now, department will only provide plants if a person is willing to procure them”.
Sources further said, as lifespan of kalmegh and ashwagandha is not long, directions were issued to reduce the number of beds of these species in the nurseries. “Last year, in many forest divisions the department struggled to grow these species in absence of water. As maximum life span of these medicinal plants is 120 days, higher authorities while reviewing the scheme before monsoon directed not to put unnecessary efforts,” added the source.
The scheme was implemented in collaboration with public representatives, panchayati raj institutions and industrial houses and forest department as a nodal agency took responsibility to distribute these plants at the doorsteps of the residents.
“Now, forest department will not distribute the plants to people as transportation was a big challenge. If plants are distributed to people who do not value them then staff is wasting its energy. This year, people who want these species can procure from the nearby nursey,” added source.
For the scheme, the state government had sanctioned Rs 210 crore. In the financial year 2021-2022, Rs 31.40 crore was allocated. “The government will also review the budget allocation as the scheme will be downsized,” the source said.