First Inter-Ministerial Committee on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants for North East

The first meeting of Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) for North East Region (NER) is scheduled to be held in March 2018. It will be co-chaired by Secretaries of Ministry of Development of North-East Region (MDoNER) and AYUSH. It will comprise members from various Ministries, Departments and several organisations in relevant fields.

Key Facts

MDoNER will be coordinator for IMC of MAPs. IMC will suggest actionable measures for enhancing the livelihood and economic transformation based on cultivation and sustainable management of MAPs resource in North East Region.
IMC will review existing mechanism or institutional arrangements for management and development of MAPs resources of NER. It will identify gaps in existing mechanism or institutional arrangements, suggest policy intervention for optimally harnessing MAPs resources of NER and accelerate development of MAPs sector, suggest Plan of Action for dovetailing of schemes and programmes of concerned Ministries and Departments. It will also suggest actionable measures for enhancing livelihood and economic transformation based on cultivation and sustainable management of MAPs resource in NER.
Background
IMC on MAPs was set up for North Eastern Region (NER) after meeting between Secretaries of DoNER and AYUSH.  It aims to create synergy in various programmes of Union Government to enable medicinal and aromatic plants sector become vibrant and develop resources to its potential.

Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (MAPs)

MAPs are botanical raw materials i.e. herbal drugs that are primarily used for therapeutic, aromatic and culinary purposes. They are mainly used as components of cosmetics, medicinal products, health foods and other natural health products. They are also starting materials for value-added processed natural ingredients such as essential oils, dry and liquid extracts and oleoresins.

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2018