Raipur June 29, 2025/ Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai today inaugurated the modern Ayurvedic medicine processing unit and central warehouse complex built by Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Cooperative Union Limited in Gram Jamgaon (M) under Patan assembly of Durg district and herbal extraction unit built under public private partnership by Sprayer Biotech Private Limited.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that our government is fulfilling the guarantee of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi with full commitment. Our government has been moving forward in the direction of development for the last one and a half years. We are giving priority to fulfilling the promises made to three crore people.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that about two thousand people will get direct and indirect employment from three new herbal units. 44 percent of the land of Chhattisgarh is covered by forest area, which is a matter of good fortune for us. Raw materials of Ayurvedic medicines will be collected from the forests and delivered to the plants, which will directly benefit the forest dwellers. He said that this processing unit is the largest unit in Central India and will prove to be a milestone in the field of Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing. This will not only improve health services, but will also establish the identity of Chhattisgarh as an Ayurvedic center at the national and international level.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that for tendu leaf collectors, the government has increased the collection rate from Rs 4,500 to Rs 5,500 per standard sack, which will directly benefit about 13 lakh tendu leaf collector families. Along with this, the ‘Charan Paduka Yojana’, which was closed in the previous government, has been restarted, under which today five beneficiary women were given Charan Paduka.
The Chief Minister called upon the people to join the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. He said that every person should plant at least one tree in the name of his mother and protect it. This will maintain respect for the mother along with environmental protection.
Addressing the program, Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap said that Chhattisgarh has 44.10 percent forest area, which leads to abundance of forest produce. This processing unit is the largest unit in Central India. With its commencement, the collection, processing and marketing of forest produce will be easy. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai, the forest produce of Chhattisgarh will now make its mark in the global market. He said that 67 types of forest produce are collected in Chhattisgarh, which will directly benefit 13 lakh 40 thousand forest dwellers. Shri Kashyap said that the ‘Charan Paduka Yojana’ has been restarted in accordance with ‘Modi’s guarantee’.
Mahamandaleshwar Shri Shri 1008 Swami Kailashanand Giri Ji Maharaj also addressed the program, highlighting the importance of Ayurvedic medicines.
Chief Minister Shri Sai planted an amla plant in the processing unit premises before the inauguration. Along with this, Forest Minister Shri Kashyap planted a custard apple plant, MP Shri Vijay Baghel planted a wood apple and Mahamandaleshwar Shri Shri 1008 Dr. Swami Kailashanand Giri Ji Maharaj also planted a custard apple plant.
It is noteworthy that the Ayurvedic processing unit is a historic initiative in the direction of realizing the ‘Forest to Pharmacy Model’ by connecting the rich forest resources of Chhattisgarh with science and modern technology. Built at a cost of Rs 36.47 crore in an area of 27.87 acres, this unit will produce products worth Rs 50 crore annually. Here, organized and scientific processing of medicinal and minor forest produce obtained from the forests of the state – such as Mahua, Sal seeds, Kalmegh, Giloy, Ashwagandha etc. will produce quality products like powder, syrup, oil, tablets and avleh. This unit will become the main center to give recognition to the products of the state in the national and international markets under the ‘Chhattisgarh Herbals’ brand.
Under the project, more than 2,000 people will get direct and indirect employment opportunities. A large number of women will be ensured participation in this, which will provide them self-employment. At the same time, new doors of livelihood will open at the local level by providing technical training to the youth. The unit has developed a storage capacity of 20,000 metric tons of modern warehouses, which will help in the long-term conservation and quality control of seasonal forest produce. This project realizes the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. It not only presents an example of local value addition of forest products, but also strengthens environmental balance, economic development and social inclusion.
