The Department of AYUSH of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has invited applications from the GMP certified units for availing the subsidy component under the Financial Assistance Scheme of the Centre for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) sector.

The department recently had granted subsidy for 13 Ayurvedic units in Kerala for complying with the GMP standards. The scheme, aimed to motivate the tiny and small scale units to obtain GMP certificate, provides one time grant equal to 1/10th of the investment (10%) made by firms subject to maximum of Rs 3 lakhs for undertaking the improvement of infrastructure to meet the GMP requirements (building and machinery etc.) through bank loans.

Units established for at least three years with a valid drug license/renewed drug license and GMP certificate, sales tax filed during the last two years showing annual sales and units possessing GMP certificate after investing through bank loan or other sources after June 2000 are eligible for availing the subsidy.

Eligible units should apply in Proforma-6 application form for grant-in-aid with details including name and address of manufacturing unit along with license certificate, year of establishment and recommendation letters of the bank manager and the state ISM Licensing Authority etc.

The department sources informed that the applications for the subsidy should reach the department addressed to Dr S K Sharma, Advisor (Ayurveda), Dept. of Ayush, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, at the earliest.