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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5672
TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2026
“National Health Fair”
5672. Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar:
Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde:
Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne:
Shri Atul Garg:
Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske:
Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:
a) whether the Government has organised initiatives such as National Health Fairs to promote
public awareness about health and traditional medicinal resources particularly in Maharashtra,
if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether steps have been taken to encourage the preservation and cultivation of medicinal
plants and traditional health practices;
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether assessments have been made regarding the integrating medicinal plant
conservation with mainstream healthcare programmes, if so, the details thereof and if not, the
reasons for the same;
(e) the details of the measures undertaken by the Government to involve communities and
institutions in preservation efforts; and
(f) the details of the expected impact on preventive healthcare, biodiversity and community
health outcomes?ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) The Ministry of Ayush organized the National Arogya Fair to promote public awareness
about health and traditional medicinal resources across India, including Maharashtra. Recently,
a National Arogya Fair was held in Maharashtra from 25th to 28th February 2026. The National
Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), under the Ministry of Ayush, participated in the event
through its Regional Cum Facilitation Centre (RCFC), Western Region, in collaboration with
the State Medicinal Plants Board (SMPB), Maharashtra. A dedicated stall was set up to
disseminate knowledge and promote awareness about Indian medicinal plants. The exhibition
focused on enhancing public understanding of medicinal plants, strengthening documentation
practices, and fostering greater stakeholder engagement within the Ayush ecosystem.
(b) & (c) The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush under its “Central
Sector Scheme on Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal
Plants” have provided project based support to State Forest Departments for In-situ
conservation/preservation of medicinal plants in their natural habitats by way of establishment
of Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas (MPCDAs).
(d) No assessments have been made regarding integrating medicinal plant conservation with
mainstream healthcare programmes. However, the National Medicinal Plants Board supported
a demand and supply study through the Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education,
Dehradun, entitled “Medicinal Plants in India: As assessment of their Demand and Supply” by
G.S. Goraya & D.K. Ved published in the year 2017. As per the study, the annual demand of
herbs/medicinal plants in the country was estimated to be about 512000 Metric Ton in 2014-
15. As per the study about 1178 medicinal plants species are recorded in practices of trade, out
of which 242 species are traded in high volume with an estimate of more than 100 MT per
annum. The study was published in 2017 and is available on the website of NMPB.
(e) Under the above scheme, to promote rural livelihood, project based support is also provided
through State Forest Departments to forest fringe communities (Joint Forest Management
Committees/Panchayats/Van Panchayat/SHGs/BMCs etc.) for setting of local cluster for value
addition, drying, warehousing and augmenting marketing infrastructure, etc. and generate
livelihood. For sustainable harvesting and there by preservation of medicinal plants in wild,
training on GFCPs is also provided to these communities through RCFCs of NMPB.
(f) NMPB, Ministry of Ayush is supporting projects for research and development for
medicinal plants activities and provision to support projects for species specific campaign to
make awareness about health benefits.
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