The Confederation of Ayurvedic Renaissance (Keralam) Pvt Ltd (CARE - Keralam), the proposed high profile global standard quality control and R&D facility for Ayurveda in Kerala with industry-government participation, is yet to take off, thanks to the inordinate delay in fund allotment by the Central Government.
Sources said, that the proposal to commence the ambitious project, under the Industrial Infrastructure Up gradation scheme of the central government, was submitted to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, way back in 2005. Initially the proposal fell in the 10th plan of the government and now it has been pushed along with 13 other projects into the 11th plan of the central government.
Around Rs 21.76 crore has been allotted for this project, which aims at bringing in around 200 Ayurvedic manufacturers into a cluster form. But till date, there has been no sign of any cash coming in. Sources said that former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy, had taken some interest in the project and in fact had written to the Union Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath. Though the Minister had replied that the project had been cleared, the fund is yet to reach here.
"This is for the first time a cluster model for the Ayurvedic industry is being formed. According to the scheme, the central government will give 75 per cent grant, 15 per cent has to be borne by the industry and the rest 10 per cent by the state government. We have collected around Rs 2 crore from the Industry and have deposited it in the bank. Even 10 acres of land has been allotted by the state government at Koratty near Thrissur as its contribution through KINFRA and KSIDC. But owing to the non-availability of funds, we are unable to carry out the project", sources said.
The main objectives of CARE-Keralam included establishing international quality drug standardization laboratories, raw material sourcing and distribution to members, branding of Kerala Ayurveda products, documentation and dossier preparation of classical Ayurvedic formulations. It will also develop a herbal park of rare and endemic medicinal plants required for the industry and a museum on Ayurveda.
Around 50 units have already joined the project and around 200 units are expected to join the project soon. Care-Keralam has also submitted the project proposal to AYUSH and they have formulated a scheme for the 11th plan. They have taken it is as a model project. "We need to know some answer or else how will we continue with this project. At a time when the Ayurveda industry is facing problems, this project will help us to survive against all odds," said sources.
The entire global market is nearly US dollar 7080 billion in which Indian contribution is a mere Rs 440 crore, which does not even constitute one per cent, and China occupies nearly 85 per cent sources said, hat while India is really the master in the herbal industry and was in a position to occupy at least 25 per cent global market easily, it is not able to do so due to the lack of proper quality certifying body. But if this project kicks off, the country will witness the flow of foreign revenue, sources said.