'CG as herbal state': CM Sai bats for traditional healing

Raipur: Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai stated that people often turn to village healers when modern hospitals and medicines fail to provide cures. And so he urged farmers to cultivate medicinal plants, highlighting their potential for higher profitability compared to paddy cultivation.

Sai was addressing the oath-taking and felicitation ceremony of Vikas Markam, the newly appointed chairman of the Chhattisgarh Tribal Traditional Health Practices and Medicinal Plant Board, in Raipur.

The CM noted that the board was established during the previous BJP govt under Dr Raman Singh's tenure. The board will also oversee the procurement and sale of these plants, with Vikas Markam leading this initiative.

The board, with support from the forest department, will provide subsidies and benefits, and purchase medicinal plant produce.

It will also raise awareness, particularly in the Bastar and Surguja divisions, and encourage rural farmers to grow medicinal plants for increased income and financial empowerment, CM Sai said. He expressed his vision for Chhattisgarh to be recognised as a ‘Herbal State', citing the state's abundance of medicinal flora.

Forest minister Kedar Kashyap stated that CM Sai's schemes are being implemented.

Minister Ramvichar Netam emphasised the importance of Baiga and Guniya healers, who treat ailments with herbs.

Vikram Markam stated that true scientific progress occurs at the intersection of modern thinking and tradition. He emphasised Chhattisgarh's rich heritage of oral-tradition-based medical knowledge and medicinal plants, which can treat illnesses and promote balanced lifestyles.

He stressed the need to preserve and scientifically validate this heritage of traditional healing.