Janaushadhi Kendra : A boon for villagers

Hoshiarpur-based Lambra Kangri Multipurpose Co-operative Service Society, known for innovative ideas, has started Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra at Lambra village where medicines are provided at much lower rates to patients.

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The Janaushadhi Kendra has come as a blessing for the people of nearby areas, as buying medicine from outside was burning a hole in their pocket. Chander Dev Singh (71), who is a heart patient and has diabetes, said, “I used to shell out more than Rs 8,500 every month on medicine. Recently, I started buying medicine from Janaushadhi Kendra. Now, the bill comes less than Rs 2,000,” he said.

Muskan, a B.Pharma degree holder, who has been appointed by the society said medicines were being offered at up to 90 per cent discount. “Medicine to cure thyroid costs between Rs 170 and Rs 250 in the market. However, we are selling it for Rs 55. We get our medicines only from authorised dealers.”

Jaswinder Singh, project director of the society, said they required 120 sq ft of area for Janaushadhi Kendra along with an air-conditioner and refrigerator. The Food and Drug Administration had also inspected our site, he said. The society, which came into existence in 1920, was honoured with a State Award by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on the Independence Day in 2024.

One of its major works was setting up of a biogas plant in the village. With its help, the villagers switched from LPG cylinders to piped biogas in 2016. The society, which has always been catering to the villagers’ needs, was adopted by Kahn Singh Pannu in 1999.

The biogas meters and chullahs are provided to villagers by the society on its own expenses. Even Government Senior Secondary School, Lambra, is using piped gas to prepare mid-day meals for students. For this initiative, the society was also felicitated with Dr Shirin Gadhia Sustainability Award by Eco Center ICNEER (International Centre for Networking Ecology, Education Re-Integration) in association with Muni Sewa Ashram. The award recognises people who have contributed to the cause of sustainability.

In another project, the society uses rice husk ash to purify water. As its disposal is a big problem, the society found a way to use it as a medium to clean water. Jaswinder said recently a delegation from the US had visited them and checked its entire working model.