'State should allot space for 'Jan Aushadhi' stores'

Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, H N Anantha Kumar on Saturday urged the State government to allot places to open ‘Jan Aushadhi’ stores to sell drugs to the poor at affordable rates.


Addressing the gathering after inaugurating Krishi Mela, exhibition and cultural mela organised as part of Shivarathreeshwara Shivayogigalavara jatra mahotsav that began at Suttur Sri Kshetra, Nanjangud taluk in the district, Kumar said that the stores will be opened at every taluk health centres soon after the State government allots the space.
Kumar offered to open first such store at JSS Hospital within one month, if the Suttur mutt agrees to the demand.


Speaking about other plans, Kumar said that the Central government intends to establish a factory in the State having a capacity to produce 13 lakh tonnes of fertilisers. The factory requires 500 acres of land close to rail connectivity. It depends on the state government to allot the required lands.


On the neem mixed urea being produced by the Central government with the sole intention of improving the fertility of seed and also insecticide, Kumar said the urea was expected to hit the market soon with already 60 lakh tonnes of urea being produced. It will decrease the dependency on chemical rich fertilisers.

Quoting agriculture scientist prof M Mahadevappa a columnist at ‘Prajavani’, Kumar said a similar experiment had been conducted at VC Farm in Mandya during 1960 and 1970.

Centre blamed


State Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader on Saturday alleged that the Centre was not evincing much interest in opening Jan Aushadhi stores in the State.
Khader who arrived at the programme venue after the exit of Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers H N Ananth Kumar, who had reportedly sought space from the State to open the stores, said that State Government was ready to open the drug stores at every taluk centre if the Centre acted swiftly in implementing the programme.