meeting of Standing Finance Committee of Central Sector ... - NMPB

Draft Minutes of the 40 th meeting of Standing FinanceCommittee of Central Sector Scheme on “Conservation,Development and Sustainable Management of MedicinalPlants” of NMPB held on 27 th October, 2010The Fortieth meeting of the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) of Central SectorScheme for “Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of MedicinalPlants” was held in the Committee Room of Department of AYUSH, Red Cross Building,New Delhi at 3:30 pm on 27 th October, 2010, under the Chairpersonship of Secretary,Department of AYUSH, Government of India to consider the project proposals receivedunder the Scheme and other Agenda items. The list of participants is available atAnnexure- IAt the outset, Chairperson welcomed SFC Members. Thereafter, the SFC tookup agenda of the meeting and made decisions as detailed in the succeeding sections.Agenda item 1 - Confirmation of the minutes of 39 th meeting of SFC held on 9 thSeptember, 2010The minutes of 39 th meeting of SFC was held on 9 th September, 2010. Theminutes were circulated to all the members vide letter no. A.11019/53/2010-NMPBdated 20.09.2010. As no comments were received, the Committee confirmed theminutes of the meeting.Agenda item 2 - Action Taken Report on the decision taken in 39 th meeting of SFCheld on 9 th September, 2010The SFC was informed about the action taken on various decisions taken in the39 th meeting of SFC held on 9 th September, 2010 as follows:-S.No. Decision of SFC Action Taken39.2 Project proposals received from Action has already been taken for release39.3 Government Organizations and Non- of grant-in-aid as approved by SFCGovernmental Organizations wereapproved by SFCRajwant Kaur/SFC/Minutes1

39.4 SFC approved the decision of ProjectProposals of PSC not recommendingprojects39.5 EX-post-facto approval by SFC.Projects approved on file by Secretary(Ayush)39.6 Monitoring of Ongoing projects of R&D,Conservation Resource Augmentation,Value addition etc.No action is requiredNo action is requiredProposal for Monitoring through AFC wasprocessed. Preparation of panel ofexperts for monitoring is underfinalization. Separate agenda No. 9 isbeing brought for consideration of thecommittee.SFC noted the action taken by NMPB on the decision of the last SFC meetingheld on 9 th September, 2010Agenda item 3 - Consideration of financial assistance to project proposals forR&D etc. and In-situ/Ex-situ Conservation etc. recommended by the ProjectScreening Committee meeting held on 6 th & 7 th September, 2010 and 15 thOctober, 2010SFC considered the total of 13 proposals for financial assistance recommendedby the PSC meeting held on 6-7 September, 15 th October, 2010 and two proposalsrecommended by the PSC on 13 th August, 2010. 12 proposals with a total outlay ofRs.67.28 lakhs was approved. The list of project proposals and the decision of the SFCare available at Annexure – II.Agenda item 4 - Project Proposals not recommended by the PSC meeting duringthe year 2010-11Project Proposals received from various institutions of R&D, Forest Departments,NGO’s etc. not recommended by the PSC were placed before the SFC. SFC agreedwith the view of PSC’s regarding these projects.Agenda item 5 - Review of Central Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development& Sustainable Management of Medicinal PlantsThe existing cost norms for various components under the scheme were placedbefore the SFC. CEO NMPB indicated that the existing cost norms for Herbal Gardenetc. were approved long back. Similarly, Board should increase the eligible assistanceRajwant Kaur/SFC/Minutes2

07. They explained their methodology and findings. They had commented about the projectas detailed below:S.No. Item No ofProjectsanctioned1 Govt.Organizations2 Non-Govt.Organizaitons3 ContractualFarmingNo. OfProjectsMonitored270 255(94.44%)105 85(80.95%)StatusRecommended NotRecommendedPartiallyRecommended217 (85.10%) 38(14.90%) -61 (71.8%) 24(28.20%) -2869 2584 724 (27.7%) 1500 (57.55%) 360 (14.65%)According to them non-availability of quality planting material, marketing support,agro-technique, technical support from research institutions etc. were the reasons for slowprogress in implementation of contractual farming scheme during the period.After deliberation it was decided that the recommendation of AFC should be followedwhile releasing second/subsequent installments for these projects. If AFC has notrecommended the projects, second installment would not be released even in case offavorable recommendation of SMPB. Further, it was decided to convene a separate projectevaluation meeting for full presentation of the monitoring & revaluation report of AFC beforethe members of SFC. AFC should submit detailed analysis, identify constraints, suggestremedial measures, containing both short term and long term measures to be taken byNMPB.Agenda item 8 – Projects approved under Contractual and promotional schemeduring 2001-02 to 2004-05.The committee was apprised of the decision of the 29th SFC meeting held on22 nd February, 2008 regarding constitution of committee for revalidation of projectssanctioned during 2001-02 to 2004-05 and the decision of the committee regardingCompletion of the promotional projects belonging to financial year 2001-02 to 2003-04Rajwant Kaur/SFC/Minutes4

y 31 st march, 2009. The committee also noted the decision of 30 th SFC meetingregarding projects sanctioned during 2002-03 onwards under Contractual Farming asdetailed below:Status of the projects sanctioned during 2001-02- to 204-05 under PromotionalScheme(Rs. In lakhs)YearNo. ofProjectsSanctionedAmountSanctionedInstallment DueUC DueNo. Amount No. Amount2001-02 149 2437.8 6 24.00 31 90.792002-03 101 995.76 21 67.39 15 35.282003-04 68 767.10 3 19.00 19 49.342004-05 178 1959.70 30 151.50 54 201.23TOTAL 496 6160.36 60 261.89 119 376.64Status of the projects sanctioned during 2002-03- to 2004-05 under ContractualScheme2002-03 79 422.5 21 43.95 18 41.72003-04 687 1638.74 257 256.25 220 220.622004-05 1529 3585.78 685 780.17 644 725.41TOTAL 2295 5647.02 963 1080.37 882 987.73After deliberation it was decided that all promotional projects sanctioned till 2003-04 should be treated as closed and no second/ third installments would be released.The committee already constituted, consisting of CEO NMPB and Director, IFD wouldreview the remaining projects i.e. promotional projects sanctioned during 2004-05 andcontractual farming scheme belonging 2002-03 to 2004-05.The committee would complete the work of the review in one month. The reviewof the work w.r.t. date of sanction, release of fund, U.C. received, U.C. issued, date ofreceipt, request of second installment etc. Further, AFC would be assigned the work offield verification/ evaluation of these projects at the rate they had carried out the work ofmonitoring/evaluation work for the projects sanctioned during 2005-06 and 2006-07.Members of SFC may also visit few sites verified by the AFC.Rajwant Kaur/SFC/Minutes5

Agenda item 9 – Monitoring of Projects sanctioned during 2007-08 to 2009-10SFC considered the status of projects as detailed below:(Rs. In lakhs)Combined detail of projects being monitored by AFC according to the Group‘A’, ‘B’ & ‘C’S.No. Year Activities No. of Amount Amount MonitoringProjects sanctioned released chargesAll States 2007-08 Promotional 157 6416.04 2588.10 50.86Scheme2008-09 -do- 96 6727.26 3276.98 63.832009-10 -do- 64 7002.96 3458.88 68.102007-08 Contractual 1527 2537.23 1269.04 24.95farmingSchemeTotal 1844 22683.49 10593.00 207.74SFC was apprised of the present monitoring and mentoring of major projectssanctioned under Central Sector Scheme, being carried out through monitoringcommittees. It was clarified that the committee is monitoring only few selectedimportant projects where as regular monitoring and mentoring of all the projectssanctioned under Central Sector Scheme are very important aspect.SFC was informed that according to the decision of the 39 th meeting of SFC theproposal for monitoring of project sanctioned upto 2009-10 by AFC was processed forconcurrence of IFD. However, IFD has not agreed to the proposals till date. Thecommittee considered the observations of IFD and resolved that AFC may be given theresponsibility for evaluation of the project sanctioned during 2007-08 to 2009-10.Expression of interest may be called for projects sanctioned during 2010-11 andonwards. The monitoring and evaluation of all projects sanctioned by NMPB during2010-11 should be monitored by an expert agency with adequate infrastructure and theagency would be selected after completing all codal formalities.CEO NMPB brought to the notice of the SFC the decision of the 8 th SFC meetingfor National Mission on Medicinal Plants was held on 29 th September, 2010 in respect ofRajwant Kaur/SFC/Minutes6

the comprehensive monitoring mechanism. It was agreed to follow similar mentoringand monitoring of the projects with replacing State Mission by State Medicinal PlantsBoard as an agency in the state for the purpose of this scheme.It was also decided that same agency should monitor both schemes of NMPB.Further, the Committee decided that same team of experts should monitor bothschemes of National Medicinal Plants Board. The Facilitation Centre may also beactivated to serve the purpose of focused monitoring and mentoring.Meeting ended with vote of Thanks to the Chair.Rajwant Kaur/SFC/Minutes7

Annexure - IList of Members and participants of 40 th Standing Finance Committeemeeting held on 27 th October, 2010 in the Committee Room, Deptt. OfAYUSHMembers1. Smt. S. Jalaja - ChairpersonSecretary (AYUSH)2. Dr. D.D. Sharma, - MemberJoint Secretary (D/o Ayush)3. Sh. P.A. Sawant - Nominee of Financial Advisor,Director (IFD)Ministry of H/F.W4. Dr. P. L. Saroj - Representative of ICAR5. Dr. Sangita M. Kasture - Representative of DBTScientist ‘D’6. Dr. Vibha Malhotra Sawhney - Representative of CSIR7. Sh. PSSG Somasankar - Member8. Sh. Bala Prasad - Member SecretaryCEO, NMPBOfficials1, Sh. Parhlad Rai, Director, NMPB2. Dr. N. Padma Kumar, Research Officer (Botany), NMPB3. Dr. Sadia Ayub, Research Officer (Biochemistry), NMPB4. Dr. Kavita Tyagi, Consultant, NMPBProject Investigators and Associates1. Dr. Rabinnarayan Acharya, Reader in Dravaguna, Gujarat Agricultural University,Jamnagar2. Sh. D.V. Nithyanand, DGM, AFC, MumbaiRajwant Kaur/SFC/Minutes8

6 International Seminar on Medicinalplants used in Indian Systems ofMedicine - Director, Institute for PGTeaching & Research in Ayurveda,Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar -361008KERALA7 First Indian Biodiversity Congress (IBC2010) & Indian Biodiversity Expo-President , Centre for Innovation inScience and Social action, MBC-27,Museum Bains compound,Nanthancode, Thiruvananthapuram-695003 & Kerala Biodiversity Board,University of Kerala, NavdanyaMADHYA PRADESH8 Participation in the "Vindhya HerbalsNational Forest Fair, 2010 - ManagingDirector, M.P. State Minor ForestProduce (T&D) Co-op FederationLimited, 74, Bungalows, Indira Nikunj,Khel Parisar, Bhopal - 462 003PUNJAB9 National Conference on MedicinalOrchids: Sustainable use and Benefitsharing for Rural and TribalCommunities - , Prof. S P. Vij,Secretary, The Orchid Society of India,Department of Botany, PunjabUniversity, Chandigarh - 160 014TAMILNADU10 Establishment & Conservation of HerbalGene Pool for Homoeopathic medicinalplants - Dr. D. Suresh Baburaj, Asstt.Directror (Bot.), Survey of MedicinalPlants & Collection Unit, (CCRH),3/126, Indra Nagar, Emerald - 643 209,Tamil NaduWEST BENGAL11 National Seminar on DiversityConservation and sustaianble Utilizationof plants and traditional knowledge - Dr.A.P. Das, Professor, Department ofBotany, North Bengal University,Darjeeling - 734 430, West BengalIt will be held from 18-20th Feb.,2011Proposed for national seminar,workshop, NGO's meet andIndian Biodiversity Expo. Themain theme is Biodiversity anddevelopment & Biodiversityconsevation in wester ghat.Proposed date for Fair would be21st to 30th Dec., 2010 at BittanMarket, BhopalProposed date for the eventwould be 20-22 Nov., 2010 withparticpants expected to be 100-125 and will be held NationalAcademy of Sciences, India,AllahabadEstablishment of herbal gene pool& Conservation of rare plants,Herbal Green House, Mistchamber for plant growth, fencing,irrigation system etc.Proposed date for NationalSeminar would be 14 - 16 Dec.,2010. Thrust areas for theseminar would be - to to takestock of mps diversity of EasternHimalay, to discuss the methodsof conservation and sustainableutilization by local/tribalcommunities etc.3 days 29.20Req. fromNMPB15.0010.00 Approved for RS.10.00lakhs.Organizers may inviteparticipants from SouthAftica, ASEAN andBIMSTEC countries.Members of SFC andexperts may also be invitedfor the programme.5 days 72.8 3.00 Approved for Rs. 3.00 lakhssubject to recommendationof SMPB and involvement ofSMPB, Kerala.1 0days3 days 6.65Req. fromNMPB4.5015 5.00 Approved for Rs. 5.00 lakhs- Not Approved3 32 32.00 Approved for Rs. 32.00lakhs they should taketechnical advise from NMPB.3 days 9.66 Req.fromNMPB4.003.00 Approved for Rs. 3.00 lakssubject to the involvelment ofSMPB and State Mission onmedicinal plants.Rajwant Kaur/SFC/Minutes10

12 Setting up Herbal Garden in SchoolUnder Promotional scheme of NMPBalong with requisite papers anddocuments - Head Master, BeldangaD.N.B. Smriti Vidyapith, P.O.-Khanyerpara, Dist. Birbhum, WestBengal13 Setting up Herbal Garden in SchoolUnder Promotional scheme of NMPBalong with requisite papers anddocuments - Sh. Sunil Sinha Roy,Principal, East West Model School,(Affiliated to the Council for the IndianSchool Certificate Examination, NewDelhi, Burdwan - 713 141 West Bengal1 14,000 0.14 ApprovedFinancial Assistance may bereleased through SMPB.1 14,000 0.14 ApprovedFinancial Assistance may bereleased through SMPB.Total 174.03 67.28Rajwant Kaur/SFC/Minutes11