HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Sept 30: Vice chairman Narayan Chandra Borkataky of the State Innovation & Transformation Aayog (SITA), Assam, visited Rangia College, Rangia, on Monday, for a survey of the Botanical Garden for the ongoing SITA-sponsored project entitled ‘Ex-Situ Cultivation of Medicinal Plants & Conservation of Rare and Endangered Plants – Setting up a Herbal Garden’. With logistical support from SITA, Rangia College aims to create an awareness drive about medicinal plants among the common people by establishing a herbal garden and cultivating rare or threatened plants outside their natural habitat. This will help future generations understand the environmental degradation caused by deforestation and industrialisation.
The project also aims to raise awareness among the public about income generation through herbal gardens, encourage farmers and researchers to pursue patent rights, and accelerate research and development in the subject by involving various institutions. The goal is to establish a herbal garden on the college campus. It is worth mentioning that the MoA for this project was signed on May 5, 2022, between SITA, government of Assam, and Rangia College.
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During his visit to the college campus, the vice-chairman inquired about the rare and endangered plants collected from different areas of Assam. Some of the RET plants already planted in the college campus garden include Hollong (State tree), Sia Nahor (Endemic), Rudraksha, Agaru (Sanchi), Dhuna, Holokh, All spice, Rauvolfia serpentina, Kalmegh, Lemon grass & Citronella, Boch, Red & white sandalwood, and many other important fruit, medicinal, and spice plants. He expressed great satisfaction after learning about the extended work being done in neighbouring areas under the SITA project. He also praised and encouraged Dr Ranjita Tamuli Talukdar, principal investigator, and Dr Snigdha Sarkar, member of Rangia College, along with their entire team for their dedicated efforts.
Following the garden visit, a review meeting was held with the Teachers’ Unit at Rangia College, where Dr Brajendra Saikia, principal of Rangia College, delivered his welcome speech. Addressing the gathering, vice-chairman Narayan Chandra Borkataky, SITA, delivered inspiring comments about the project, offering fruitful suggestions for its future development. He expressed hope that through the project, people would understand the usefulness of herbal plants and be encouraged to establish herbal gardens for income generation and research purposes.
Dwijendra S Hazari, Alakesh Kakati, along with other officials of SITA and members of the Rangia College Teachers’ Unit, were also present at the review meeting. The meeting was conducted by Deepak Kalita, secretary of the Teachers’ Unit, Rangia College, with a vote of thanks.
