The Himalaya Drug Company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Andhra Pradesh Prisons and Correctional Service department to cultivate medical herbs for Himalaya on a pilot basis.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by T P Das, director general of Prisons and Correctional Services, government of Andhra Pradesh and Dr Babu, Head Agrotech and phytochemistry from Himalaya Drug Company.

Initially the pilot programme is aimed at imparting training to prisoners and convicts for cultivation of medicinal herbs and other know-how skills that could be helpful for them to rehabilitate and earn a living after released from the jails. Moreover, the programme is also viewed as a meaning investment of convicts’ valuable time to learn and earn while in prison.
As per the provisions of the MoU, the Himalaya Drug Company will impart training to the prisoners for cultivating medicinal herbs. Subsequently after the training, under phase-I initiative, the convicts will undertake cultivation of medicinal herbs for Himalaya at the Prisons Farm in Prisoners’ agriculture colony in Ananthapur.

With this new initiative, it has given a good opportunity for the prison inmates to participate in herb cultivation project and earn a regular monthly income by acquiring essential skills in the process. Apart from training the prisoners, Himalaya will also supply seeds and provide technical assistance.

Dr Babu from Himalaya said, “As part of our corporate social responsibility, the Himalaya Drug company is collaborating with Prisons Department to contribute our services in imparting training skills to the convicts and give them a fair chance to reform their behaviour and integrate with the society.”

“This programme is basically implemented as part of inmate skills development (ISD) initiatives taken up by the prisons department in the state. Skill development is essential for successful reintegration of the prisoners into mainstream society once they complete their jail term. Initially we are planning to impart training and cultivation skills to 25-30 convicts and we will take up two acres of land for cultivation of Alfalfa medicinal plants at our Ananthapur prison farm facility,” said Das.

To begin with, the inmates will cultivate the herb Alfalfa, as it can be planted any time during the year, giving high yields over a short period of time. Himalaya Drug Company will then purchase the deliverable produce from Prisons department. In addition to the herb Alfalfa, Himalaya will also purchase dried Neem leaves collected from the certified organic areas. Once the system begins to operate smoothly and efficiently, Himalaya will explore the possibility of scaling up the project.