Ayush Ministry Signs Two Strategic MoUs to Boost Conservation and Awareness of Medicinal Plants
New Delhi, August 5: In a major push to conserve India’s rich biodiversity and promote public awareness about traditional medicinal plants, the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) under the Ministry of Ayush signed two strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in New Delhi on Monday. The signing ceremony, held at Nirman Bhawan, was presided over by Union Minister of State for Ayush and Health, Prataprao Jadhav.
The first MoU was inked between NMPB and IshVed-Bioplants Venture, Pune, to conserve and maintain the germplasm of rare, endangered, and threatened (RET) medicinal plants using tissue culture techniques. The second MoU, a tripartite agreement, was signed among NMPB, the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, for establishing a National Medicinal Plants Garden within the AIIMS campus.
A Milestone in Medicinal Plant Conservation
Commending the initiative, Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav said:
“The vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to build a healthier and self-reliant India by 2047 inspires today’s collaboration. These MoUs mark a significant milestone in conserving and promoting India’s medicinal plant heritage by integrating traditional knowledge with modern science.”
Key Objectives of the MoUs:
MoU 1: NMPB and IshVed-Bioplants Venture
- Focuses on conserving RET medicinal plants through advanced tissue culture methods.
- Aims to develop extensive cultivation protocols to ensure a sustainable supply chain for the Ayush industry.
- Will strengthen the medicinal plant sector by combining the scientific expertise of both parties.
MoU 2: NMPB, AIIA, and AIIMS
- Establishes a National Medicinal Plants Garden at AIIMS, New Delhi.
- Designed to create public awareness among patients, students, and visitors about the therapeutic value of medicinal plants.
- Promotes knowledge exchange among institutions and integrates Ayurveda with mainstream medical education.
Prominent Attendees
The signing ceremony was attended by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Dr M. Srinivas, Director, AIIMS New Delhi, Ankita Mishra Bundela, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and senior officials from NMPB, AIIA, and AIIMS.
These partnerships reflect the ministry’s ongoing commitment to evidence-based conservation, sustainable cultivation, and public engagement in the field of traditional medicine. The move also supports broader national goals under the Ayush Mission and aligns with India’s biodiversity and wellness objectives.
