Bhubaneswar, 25 September (H.S.): The 6th Executive Body meeting of the State Medicinal Plants Board (SMPB), Odisha, was held today at the Conference Hall of the Home Department under the chairmanship of Shri Satyabrata Sahu, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department. The proposal was presented by Sri V. Karthick, IFS, Chief Executive, SMPB.

In a significant development, the Executive Body approved the Five-Year Vision Plan of the Board, aimed at strengthening conservation, cultivation, and commercialization of medicinal plants across the State. Shri Sahu informed that the first year of funding will be met from the Odisha Forestry Sector Development Society (OFSDS), while from the second year onwards the programme will expand through convergence with AYUSH, Panchayati Raj, SC & ST Development, and other related departments. He further announced that Memoranda of Understanding with FRLHT (Bengaluru), IRMA (Anand), and MSSRF (Chennai) will be signed in the first week of November 2025 to strengthen technical collaboration.

The Vision Plan also includes the launch of Odisha’s own herbal brand, “Kalinga Herbs”, under which products developed will be marketed. To improve accessibility, the Chief Executive of RPRC has been directed to provide a dedicated outlet for SMPB products at RPRC, Bhubaneswar.

The meeting was attended by senior officials including Sri Suresh Pant, IFS (PCCF & HoFF), Sri G. Rajesh, IFS (CCF, PPA), Sri Gorakh Waman Kalunge, IFS (Director Horticulture), Smt. Anjana Panda (Director AYUSH), and Sri Sudhansu Sekhar Khora, IFS (Chief Executive, RPRC). Other members and invitees present were Dr. Murugesan, IFS (PD, OFSDP – Special Invitee), Sri Debapriya Kampa (DCF, SMPB), Sri Anup Kumar Sahoo (Additional Secretary, PR & DW Department), and Sri Manoj Kumar Nayak (Deputy Director, SSD Department).

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda