The Central government has sanctioned a sum of Rs. 8.15 lakh to nine Ayurvedic drug manufacturing units in the country as the subsidy component on loans for the financial year 2003-04, as part of the centrally sponsored scheme of grant in aid to Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani drug manufacturing units to improve their infrastructure to meet Schedule T requirements.

This financial assistance scheme was introduced during the start of year 2003 by the Department of Indian System of Medicines & Homoeopathy (ISM&H) as part of the Rs 150-crore Annual Plan for 2002-03 of the Centre, for the standardization of manufacturing units in the segment of ISMs, considering their inability to mobilize enough funds for modernisation. The subsidy constitutes 10 percent of the sanctioned/utilized loan amount.

Out of the nine units, eight are from Kerala and one from Maharashtra. These units are Trinity Pharmaceuticals Pvt.Ltd, Thrissur (Rs.2.60 lakh on a loan amount of Rs 26 lakh), Aykkara Pharmaceuticals at Kallada near Kollam (Rs. 43,000), CNS Chikitsalayam, Mezhathur (Rs.93,000), Sreeram Herbal Remedies (P) Ltd., Thrissur (Rs.40,000), Rani Drug House, Nellayi (Rs.One lakh), Sree Shankara, Changanassery (Rs.One lakh), Padma Ayurveda Pharmacy, Mannar, Aalappuzha (Rs.40,000), Aswagandha Pharmaceuticals, Pathanamthitta (Rs.1.14 lakhs), and Vaipani Herbal, Nagpur, Maharashtra (Rs.25, 000), according to the Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Association of India(AMMOI).

The ISM Department had sent a circular detailing the scheme and financial assistance to the state drug control offices and to the industry associations for circulation among the manufacturers, during February last year. The units were directed to apply for the subsidy in the fixed format issued by the Department along with the circular. The units were chosen for subsidy in accordance to their eligibility in terms of the size of the facility, expenditure incurred on upgradation etc.

AMMOI sources said the association had promptly informed its members about the scheme and many units had applied for the scheme.