Union Minister to Inaugurate the Event
The inaugural session of the Chintan Shivir will be graced by Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush and Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as the Chief Guest.
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, will attend the event as the Guest of Honour, while Shri Hoveyda Abbas, Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser, Ministry of Ayush, will be present as the Special Guest.
Focus on Policy, Research and Implementation
The Chintan Shivir will be followed by a Board Meeting of the National Medicinal Plants Board, along with technical sessions and panel discussions. Experts from academia, research institutions, industry, and government agencies will participate in the deliberations.
Discussions will focus on strengthening policy frameworks, promoting research and innovation, and addressing on-ground implementation challenges faced by the medicinal plants sector across different regions of the country.
Strengthening the Medicinal Plants Value Chain
The deliberations are expected to identify priority areas for intervention across the entire value chain, including cultivation, conservation, post-harvest management, value addition and market linkages.
Special emphasis will be laid on sustainable harvesting practices and conservation of biodiversity to ensure long-term availability of medicinal plant resources.
Boost to Ayush Ecosystem and Rural Livelihoods
The medicinal plants sector plays a crucial role in supporting the Ayush healthcare system while also providing livelihood opportunities to farmers, forest dwellers and tribal communities.
By strengthening institutional mechanisms and improving coordination among stakeholders, the Chintan Shivir aims to enhance income generation, encourage entrepreneurship and promote inclusive growth in rural and forest-based economies.
Roadmap for Sustainable Growth
The outcomes of the Chintan Shivir are expected to contribute to a coordinated and forward-looking roadmap for the medicinal plants sector. The recommendations will help guide future policy decisions, research priorities and programme implementation.
Officials believe that the event will reinforce India’s leadership in traditional medicine and support the global promotion of Ayush systems.
National Efforts in Medicinal Plants Development
The National Medicinal Plants Board has been working towards conservation, sustainable use and cultivation of medicinal plants through various schemes and initiatives. The Chintan Shivir aligns with the government’s broader vision of integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific approaches.
