To propel the growth of the sector in the state, Gujarat Ayurveda industry has demanded the state government to declare Ayurveda, a part of Indian System of Medicines (ISM) as a green industry. The Gujarat Ayurvedic Aushadh Manufacturers Association (GAAMA) insisted that this should be done at the earliest as lack of such recognition has led to serious troubles to this industry.

GAAMA points out that there has been a lot of problems that the industry has been facing due to lack of recognition of this sector as a clean and green industry, which could have been avoided otherwise. Absence of government initiative coupled with an anti industry approach taken by the government agencies like the department of pollution control board and forest are believed to be major factors affecting the growth prospects of the industry.

Prabodh Shah, president, GAAMA states that no industry can sustain without the support of the government let alone grow. He said, “The government of India had long back taken the decision to recognise ISM as a green industry, however they have not taken any firm action on this creating a lot of confusion in the sector. Taking advantage of this situation a lot of government officials are arm twisting the law to harass the industry by misusing the powers entrusted in them.”

He urged that since Ayurveda has proved itself over the years as one of the most environmentally friendly industry it is high time for the government to finally take some conclusive step towards its decision. “Government needs to enact more pro active policies for the industry, that should be strong enough to clear the doubts so that the industry is not affected due to the wrong interpretation of the law. This will enhance and sustain the development process of the SMEs, by providing them with required recognition and support for the growth of the industry,” Shah insisted.

To simplify the procedures and to categorise the industrial projects on the basis of its pollution potential, the ministry of environment and forests had broadly classified the industries under three categories namely of red, orange and green in decreasing order of severity of pollution. Green category represents marginally polluting units and ISM industry which includes Ayurveda as well except those involved in producing solvent extracts are also classified under the green category.

Shah informed that recently the Karanataka government recognising the potential of the industry had declared Ayurveda as a green industry, thus taking the growth perspective of the industry in the state. The Gujarat government should enact similar steps in the interest of the industry, he said.