The Tamil Nadu government is yet to respond to the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) offer for financial assistance to it for cultivating medicinal herbs, including rare ones. NABARD, it can be mentioned, had earlier this year offered to assist the state government with financial assistance for cultivation of medicinal herbs with a view to propogate extensively the use of the Siddha system of medicine in the state. NABARD had asked the Tamil Nadu government to prepare a detailed list of plants intended for cultivation and the total cost incurred so as to work out the financial assistance it could offer.

But surprisingly, while on one hand the Tamil Nadu government has been voicing vigorously stating it is promoting the Siddha system of medicine in a big way it is yet to respond to an offer which could ensure regular supply of medicinal plants and herbs for the preparation of Siddha medicines. It is not clear as to why the state government has not responded to the NABARD's offer. Sources in the Department of Health and Family Welfare also remained tightlipped on the issue.

NABARD had been toying with the idea of refinancing for agricultural purposes more so in cultivation of medicinal herbs. The first offer was put to the Tamil Nadu government. The contention of the bank was that the farmers could take mileage out of the cultivation of the medicinal herbs thus ensuring easy supply of such herbs besides leaving them with sizeable income. The Tamil Nadu government had been inviting farmers to cultivate these herbs and hence the offer from NABARD.

Sources in NABARD claim that the bank would consult the Tamil Nadu government once again on the issue before calling the offer off.