JAMMU, MAR 29: In a major push to promote medicinal plant awareness and conservation, an ambitious proposal to set up 100 School Herbal Gardens across Jammu Division has been approved by the National Medicinal Plants Board, Union Ministry of Ayush, with a budget of Rs 53 lakh.
The project envisages creation of herbal gardens in selected schools, with ten schools covered in each district of the Division. The 100 schools have been identified by the Directorate of School Education, Jammu, while the initiative was recommended by the Directorate of Ayush, J&K, and the J&K Medicinal Plants Board.
The herbal gardens will serve as interactive learning spaces where students gain hands‑on knowledge about the identification, cultivation and traditional uses of important medicinal plants, while also developing a deeper appreciation for nature and AYUSH‑based healthcare systems.
Director Ayush, J&K and CEO, J&K Medicinal Plants Board, Dr. Ajay Kumar Tikoo, called the approval a significant milestone, saying the project reflects a forward‑looking approach to linking school education with traditional knowledge. He expressed confidence that the herbal gardens will become centres of experiential learning, promoting preventive healthcare, environmental responsibility and conservation of vital plant species.
Dr. Tikoo thanked Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo and Commissioner Secretary M. Raju for their sustained support in securing the project’s approval.
