Called ‘van dhan shops’, these would benefit villagers living close to forests
Mumbai : In a counter to ayurvedic medicine companies and yoga gurus, the state government is all set to launch its own herbal medicine shop in Nagpur from this month. The government is going to launch a dedicated chain of shops to promote the marketing of this herbal produce, which would help villagers living in the periphery of forests.
A senior official with the state forest department said that the forest produce shops will be called ‘van dhan shops’. There are 33 items, including shatavari, shilajit, white musali, honey and an Ayurvedic medicine on diabetes, which will be made available at these shops for a cheaper price compared to other branded products.
“The ayurvedic diabetes medicine is made from the pulp of a tree locally known as ‘pija’. A particular yoga guru’s institution sells the same medicine at Rs 1,000 per glass. The government will sell it at Rs 150 for the same quantity,” the official said.
The Chhatisgarh government is also selling forest products in its own state. It has a government shop at the Chhatisgarh airport and at railway stations in the state. The Maharashtra government’s forest minister, Sudhir Mungantiwar, got the idea from there, when his assistants informed him about it.
“They have only 18 medicines. We will provide 33 to our customers. We will think about expanding the shops outside Nagpur as well, once the idea has clicked,” the official said.
The first such ‘van dhan shop’ will be set up in Nagpur this month. Later, it will be expanded across the state with the help of women’s self-help groups. The government will create a local brand for these herbal products.
Pandurang Mhaske