Plan to replicate 'Tulsi Gram' project in Toofangunj I block

Kolkata: Cooch Behar district administration has chalked a plan to replicate 'Tulsi Gram' project in Toofangunj I block after it has seen a success at Natabari area.

State Ayush department adopted 'Tulsi Gram' project in some parts of North Bengal to spread awareness on the importance of Tulsi plant and other herbs and their usage in the treatment of various common ailments. The project was initiated in 2013 by Basab Kanti Dinda, an Ayurveda practitioner at Velapeta village with an aim to provide better treatment to the village people who used to suffer from cough and cold, throat soar, headache, fever, nasal blockage caused mainly because of the humid weather in the region. As the project has received unprecedented response among the villagers, the Ayush department decided to replicate the project in the entire Toofangunj I block to cater to the more number of people. Dinda who is also district health officer on Ayurveda chalked out and elaborate plan on how the villagers in the area can be encouraged to plant Tulsi plants and spread awareness among people about the usages of Tulsi in day-to-day lives of the people.

Dinda has won a prize in the recently concluded India International Science Festival 2019. The district administration particularly the local block development officer had extended a great deal of help to Dinda to implement the project. After seeing the success of the project, the local BDO has decided to develop Toofangunj I as 'Tulsi Gram' block.

Dinda involved and encouraged the local people in his campaign of planting Tulsi saplings which have high medicinal qualities in every household. Due to heavy cold and humidity the villagers suffer from many ailments throughout the year.

"Planting of Tulsi saplings helps us in many ways. Weeds do not grow, where Tulsi plants are sown. As a result, the cleanliness can be maintained by sowing Tulsi plants. Mosquito borne diseases can also be checked by planting Tulsi saplings. Apart from the environmental issues, Tulsi plants have high medicinal qualities as they help people check various ailments," Dinda said.

Dr Abhijit Ghosh. Director of Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Kolkata branch said: "Dinda has done a commendable job by introducing a unique project in the name of 'Tulsi Gram'.