The second meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of AYUSH was held in New Delhi on December 15, 2025, under the chairmanship of Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Prataprao Jadhav. Members of Parliament from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha participated in the meeting to review priorities and initiatives related to India’s traditional systems of medicine.
The meeting focused on the importance of medicinal plant cultivation in strengthening the AYUSH ecosystem, enhancing farmer incomes and ensuring a sustainable supply of quality raw materials for traditional medicines. The role of biodiversity conservation and farmer participation was highlighted as critical to the long-term growth of the sector and effective healthcare delivery.
Officials outlined progress under the National Medicinal Plants Board’s Central Sector Scheme on Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants.
Between 2020–21 and 2024–25, approvals worth ₹1,161.96 lakh were granted for 139 projects aimed at farmer training, awareness generation and capacity building. Seven Regional-cum-Facilitation Centres are providing technical support across states, while the e-Charak digital platform is strengthening market access by directly connecting farmers with buyers.
The committee also discussed the role of Krishi Vidyapeeths and Krishi Vigyan Kendras in expanding awareness and adoption of medicinal plant cultivation to improve rural livelihoods. Members noted that the deliberations would help further integrate AYUSH systems into the national healthcare framework and strengthen India’s position in traditional medicine globally.
