Manjushree G Naik, Udupi, DH News Service:

The National Mission for Medicinal plants in Udupi district is not really happening as expected. The entire scheme is in its initial stage.

Madhya Pradesh Rajya Laghu Vanopaj Sangh is planning to undertake plantation with a view to increasing production of Tendu leaves in the state. The work of plantation will be undertaken soon. After growing of these trees, the Tendu leaf collectors will be able to collect Tendu leaves from nearby areas.

The Sikkim Government has launched a over Rs 5-crore project to plant more than 500 species of medicinal and aromatic plants in the State.

Under the project, being funded by National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), the Forest and Wildlife department would plant the seeds and saplings of rare medicinal plants, trees and herbs in 1,200 hectares land in next four years.

GANGTOK, June 18: A Rs 5.07 crore project aimed at rejuvenating the endangered, rare, medicinal and aromatic plants was launched in Sikkim. The project, funded by National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), will run till 2011-12 and calls for propagation and conservation of threatened medicinal plants, trees and herbs in the 1,200 hectares project area of Sikkim.

Curcumin, turmeric

Western Ghats Task Force Chairman Ananth Hegde Ashisara said a proposal has been sent to the Union government with an appeal to utilise the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) to protect medicinal herbs in collaboration with the Forest and Horticulture departments.

R. Vimal Kumar
35 ha over 7 blocks will be brought under various medicinal plants

TOWARDS GREEN COVER: Raising seedlings and maintaining the plants will attract incentive under the medicinal plants cultivation programme.