Herbal garden project to start soon in city schools

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 17

National medicinal plant Board working under the ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, with an aim to promote medicinal plants has started ‘School Herbal Garden’ Scheme in the state.

Under the project, assistance will be given of Rs 25,000 per school for an area of 500 sq m in first year of establishment and up to Rs 7,000 per annum as maintenance cost for the next four years by the board.

The scheme is being run in the three districts of Punjab i.e. Bathinda, Patiala and Sri Muktsar Sahib. In Bathinda, the project is running in as many as 16 schools where as in Patiala and Muktsar, the project is going on in 22 and 20 schools respectively.

Now the officials of the forest department who are looking after the project at state level said that Jalandhar soon be the part of the project.

According to the ministry, setting up of herbal garden in school is a good way of acquainting them with the commonly available and frequently used medicinal plants.

Under the project, the schools will be encouraged to set up herbal gardens within their school complex. Schools can have separate plots to make up a total of 500 sq m for 10-15 species of medicinal plants including tree species.

Schools will be responsible for maintenance of the herbal gardens with the active involvement of the students and parent/ teacher association. Students will be involved in labeling the plants, watering and weeding which will enhance the knowledge of the students about the benefits and uses of the species nurtured by them.