Shri Shripad Naik Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH and Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for the Prime Minister Office and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, have laid Foundation Stone for Post Harvest Management Centre for Medicinal Plants at Bhaderwah and inaugurated 21 AYUSH Health & Wellness Centres in Jammu & Kashmir on 25th Sept 2020 through video conferencing.
The purpose of establishing Post Harvest Management Centre for Medicinal Plants is to develop facilities for drying, sorting, processing, certification, packaging, and safe storage of herbal raw materials produced and collected by local people so that its quality is enhanced to fetch better price and augment the income of farmers associated.
During the event, 21 AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres were also inaugurated under Ayushman Bharat in Jammu & Kashmir. A holistic wellness model would be created through these centres to reduce the disease burden and out of the pocket expenditure. The main focus of AYUSH interventions would be to empower masses for “self-care” on the prevention of diseases through a healthy lifestyle, food, Yoga, and medicinal plants.
Shri, Shripad Naik in his address stated that the “Post Harvest Management Centre” of medicinal plants in the Bhaderwah region of Jammu & Kashmir was a long pending demand of people of this area and highlighted the big potential of the region in the cultivation of many Himalayan medicinal plant species. Minister appreciated the effort of UT Government officials in implementing a centrally sponsored program and stated that Govt. of India is according top priority to J&K for accelerating the pace of development.
Dr. Jitendra Singh, during his address highlighted that this Post Harvest Centre will create Employment Avenue among the youth in addition to other facilities provided for the growers and collectors of medicinal plants. Further, he empathized that the AYUSH Health and Wellness Programme will not only provide services to the needy people but also promote AYUSH at the international level.
