Women of Chhattisgarh villages are earning a profit of 20 lakh rupees in a year from the trade of herbal medicines. The women of women self-help groups, who once worked as laborers, are now becoming self-reliant by doing business of forest medicines through Van Dhan Vikas Kendra. Saroj Patel of Donganala village of Pali tehsil of Korba district informed Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel about this profitable profitable business today. He told that his Haribol self-help group has made the herbs, flower leaves etc. found in the forest as a medium to eradicate poverty from the root. In Korba district, Mrs. Saroj narrated her success story to Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel in the virtual launch-bhoomipujan program of development works worth Rs 104 crore.
Saroj Patel and other women of his group have now left their livelihood and collected herbs and created an annual business of Rs 44 lakhs in herbal medicines. Saroj Patel is also leading other women of her village towards economic strength by joining this work in the group. Haribol Self-Help Group has also planned to increase this business to a turnover of 2.5 crores per annum by next year. Hearing the success story of the group, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel also applauded the women by clapping and assured all possible help to take the business forward.
During the program, Mrs. Saroj told Chief Minister Mr. Baghel that the work of making medicines in Forest Drug Processing Center has started by forming Haribol Self-Help Group in Donganala village of Pali Tehsil. Women are making 18 types of medicines by collecting herbs from the forests. Saroj said that there are 12 women in his group, in the year 2020-21, the women of the group did a business of Rs 44 lakhs, out of which there was a net inflow of Rs 20 lakhs. Saroj also told the Chief Minister that earlier women could earn only 500 to 600 rupees in a month by doing wage work in the village. At present, every woman member is getting an income of Rs. one lakh 71 thousand per year by collecting, processing and selling raw herbal medicines.
Mrs. Saroj informed that anti-diabetic medicines, cold-cough, skin related, immunity booster etc. medicines are being manufactured from herbs in the Forest Processing Center. He told that all women are becoming financially strong by joining the group and making medicines. Everyone’s family is being well fed. Saroj said that starting from Rs 30 as daily wage, all women are getting Rs 200 per day. The women of the group have planned to do a business of two to 2.5 crore rupees next year by taking the business forward. The Chief Minister expressed happiness on getting information about setting up a big business by making medicines from herbs on such a large scale to these women of Pali and congratulated and congratulated Saroj and the women of the group.