Kathua, July 25:Union Minister of State for DONER (Independent charge) and MoS for PMO Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in presence of Minister for Health and Medical Education Ch Lal singh today launched JK Aroma Arogya Gram Project here at Basohli.The project has been sponsored by CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu (CSIR-IIIM).
Five CSIIR institutes namely, CSIR-IIIM (Nodal institute), CSIR-CIMAP, CSIR-IHBT, CSIR-NBRI and CSIR-NEIST are participating in the project being implemented in ten districts of J&K for job and wealth creation through intensive cultivation of CSIR technology of high value, low volume medicinal and aromatic crop.District Development Commissioner Kathua Ajay Singh Jamwal, Director CSIR IIIM Dr Ram Vishawkarma besides a large number of local people including farmers were present on the occasion.
After launching the project Dr Jitendra Singh said the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narinder Modi is providing liberal funding for developing the Basohli on moder lines. He said Basohli town is well known across the country for its Art and Pashmina. He said central government is very keen to develop Basohli town as a hub of tourism. Dr Singh informed the gathering that the state government has submitted projects worth Rs 180 Crore to central government for creating adequate wayside amenities for tourist including development of Ranjit Sagar Dam as tourist spot. He said central govt has also formulated a comprehensive plan to boost Pashmina industry of Basohli. He further said centre is also working on a plan to provide rail link network upto Sinthen Top via Basohli and Bani.
Highlighting the benefits of the JK Aroma Arogya Gram Project, Dr Singh said Basohli area has sufficient potential for cultivation of medicinal plants. He said the project is set to be completed in one year and provide unemployed youth an opportunity to set up ventures in cultivation of medicinal plants.
Dr Jitendra Singh asked the director CSIR IIIM Dr Ram Vishawkarma to involve the local youth in the project. He said with the development of medicinal and aromatic herbal village in Basohli, hundreds of local unemployed youth especially women would get employment at their doorsteps. He directed the director to arrange the awareness camp for farmers of the area and hold demonstrations of Mobile Distillation Unit for extraction of essential oils.In his address Ch Lal Singh said that the central government has provided adequate funding under the government sectors like Health, R&B, PHE, RDD etc for developing every nook and corner of the state with all basic amenities like road connectivity, safe drinking water, uninterrupted power supply, education.
He said government has released 49 Crores for construction of Mahnu-Hatli road adding that the work on the project is under progress and would be completed within stipulated time frame. He appealed the people to cooperate with the executing agencies in completing the ongoing projects in the Basohli town. The minister said that a number of new projects is under pipeline to develop the Basohli as a Model Tehsil of the state. Responding to the locals demands, the minister said that about 4000 paramedics, 1000 medicos will be recruited soon through JKPSC and JKSSRB so that shortfall in remote areas hospitals is met.
Ch Lal Singh also appealed the people to take up massive plantation of medicinal and herbal plants as this will foster the pace of achieving desired results from the project. He said with the completion of tourist oriented projects, Basohli town will emerge as a favorite tourist destination of the state.
Later Dr Singh and Ch. Lal Singh also inspected the Exhibition organized by CSIR on JK Aroma Arogya Gram Project at Jawahar Navodya Vidayala Basohli.
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