376/2022-2023

Aizawl the 24th March 2023 : A Nation-wide Campaign on Ashwagandha & State Level One-Day Workshop was inaugurated today at Seminar Hall, Education Department, Mizoram University. Dr. C. Lalzepuii, Principal Director, Health and Family Welfare Department, who is also member secretary, SMPB, Mizoram graced the occasion as chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. C.Lalzepuii mentioned that the State Medicinal Plant Board or SMPB was established in the year 2001 in Mizoram as a board under the direct administration of Health and Family Welfare Department. However, in 2014, as the National Medicinal Plants Board was brought under the administration of the newly created Ministry of AYUSH by Government of India, in Mizoram, the State Medicinal Plants Board was also brought under the administration of the Directorate of AYUSH during financial year 2015-16.

The Principal Director also mentioned that as an agency, SMPB's mandate is to co-ordinate all matters relating to medicinal plants such as the cultivation, conservation, research and development and promotion of medicinal plants; towards which end SMPB has undertaken various awareness campaigns, set up nurseries for medicinal plants, established herbal gardens in Mizoram. Dr. C. Lalzepuii also stated that SMPB Mizoram has successfully executed nationwide campaign on Amla-Sunhlu (Emblica officinalis) during 2014-2015, and Giloe- Hrui-van-kai (Tinospora cordifolia) during 2018-2019.

While thanking the organisers of the event for their tremendous effort, Dr. C. Lalzepuii expressed hope that the nationwide campaign would be successfully observed in Mizoram and would go a long way in invigorating the awareness and practice of medicinal plants and enhance its relevance in the contemporary society and wish the campaign a great success.

Dr. S. Mara Thansiami, Deputy Director, Directorate of AYUSH, also highlighted the importance of drugless therapy especially in today’s world filled with stress and anxiety. She mentioned that therapy through exercise has great physical and stress management potential and invited the gathering to try and relieve their mental as well as physical discomfort and afflictions through AYUSH.

Prof. B.P. Mishra, Dean, School of Earth Sciences & Natural Resource Management, MZU also said that all plants have medicinal values, some of which are yet to be discovered. He mentioned that the knowledge of medicinal plants inherited from ancestors has been declining rapidly. Highlighting the health benefits of Ashwagandha, Prof. B.P Mishra expressed his hope that due credit would be given to medicinal plants to encourage researchers and students to take more interest in medicinal plants.

Inauguration of Nation-wide Campaign on Ashwagandha & State Level One-Day Workshop campaign was organized by State Medicinal Plants Board (SMPB), Mizoram National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH in collaboration with Department of Horticulture, Aromatic & Medicinal Plants. Dr. Lalkhawngaihi Renthlei, Chief Executive Ofiicer (SMPB), Directorate of AYUSH delivered a welcome speech in today’s programme.

The inauguration session was followed by presentation and discussion about Ashwagandha by different resource persons and concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr.T. Lalliankimi, Programme Officer, SMPB, Mizoram.

Ashwagandha (withania somnifera) also known as ‘Indian Ginseng’ or ‘Winter cherry’ is a high-valued medicinal plant in India, a priority medicinal plant identified by National Medicinal Plant Board of India.