200 Jan-Aushadhi Kendras to be opened in Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal: Union Minister of Chemical and Fertilisers Shri Ananth Kumar has said that 200 Jan-Aushadhi Kendras will be opened in Madhya Pradesh for which Central Government will provide Rs. 50 crore. He announced to establish a Rs. 5500 crore factory to produce 13 lakh MT urea in Jabalpur. He said that Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has changed fortune of the state through public-oriented schemes. The Chief Minister said that responsibility of reserved and allotted forests’ management will be entrusted to Forest Committees making them partners in this process. He also directed to prescribe minimum support price of forest produce. Shri Ananth Kumar and Shri Chouhan were addressing aconvention of Joint Forest Management Committees and Krishi Mahotsav programme at Mandla today.
Union Minister Shri Kumar said that 30 thousand Jan-Aushadhi Kendras are being opened in the state for saving lives of people. He said that Joint Forest Management Committees of Madhya Pradesh are ideal. Forest dwellers have been greatly benefited by works done for tendu patta collection by the state government and their lives have improved. He urged farmers to adopt organic farming instead of using chemical fertilisers. Central government is considering to give subsidy on organic and cowdung manure. He informed that decision to provide subsidy on cowdung manure will be taken following discussions with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The Chief Minister said that cooperation of all sections of society is necessary for protection of forests and wildlife. He advised farmers to grow floral and horticulture corps to make agriculture profitable. He informed that along with 200 Jan-Aushadhi Kendras, 4 additional centres will be opened in Mandla district where people will be given 60 percent concession on purchase of medicines.
Forest Minister Dr. Gaurishankar Shejwar also spoke on the occasion.
Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister Shri Ananth Kumar conferred Amrita Devi Awards to 6 institutions and Basawan Mama Memorial Forest and Wildlife Protection Awards to 11 institutions. Cash prizes and letters of citations were also given away to them. For Excellent performance, 2 Forest Committees of Mandla district were given Rs. 50 thousand each and their members Rs. one thousand each. Sewing machines were provided to make available employment to members of Forest Committees. Dividend worth Rs. 11 crore was distributed to 34 Forest Committee. Inauguration and foundation laying of works costing Rs. 48 crore were made. Benefits and advanced agricultural implements were distributed to 35 beneficiaries.
