Jammu and Kashmir is known for high species diversity. The major area of Jammu has a subtropical climate, while the temperate to alpine climate prevails in the Kashmir valley. There are 572 unique medicinal plants in J&K. Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta rightly called for formulating a detailed plan for each one of the plants.

While he also directed the Commissioner Secretary and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to spearhead the work and prepare a detailed plan for the cultivation, promotion, and marketing of these plants.

Medicinal plants are traded in the form of raw material as well as processed products. These have provided an important source of income for communities living in the region, particularly in Kashmir, for a long time.

According to a survey by NCBI, the medicinal plants in Kashmir Himalayas regulate the livelihood of the people and support cultural ecosystem services. Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Lamiaceae, Malvaceae, Ranunculaceae, Poaceae, Solanaceae, Polygonaceae, Plantaginaceae and Brassicaceae are the top most dominant families. Herbaceous groups of plants were more common than trees and shrubs, and 71.96% of herb taxa were employed as medicine. Liliaceae, Liliaceae, Caprifoliaceae and Portulacaceae have the highest family use value (FUV).

Humans have been using medicinal plants since ancient times and there has been documentation of these uses.

Experts say that while developed countries have better access to modern medicines, produced by chemical synthesis, in many cases, these originate from a molecule of natural origin of a plant or animal. Despite this, the developed world increasingly appreciates the direct use of herbs, combined with modern medical treatments, especially those herbs that have a scientific basis for the cure of minor illnesses

Experts say that J&K has huge potential to produce high altitude medicinal plants. There are also few schemes underway through the Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Board. There is a need to conserve medicinal plants. There is a need to develop home herbal gardens to promote medicinal plants in common households for home herbal remedies.  There is also a need to increase the number of case studies focusing on searching for such variables to better understand situations in which each medicinal plant has predictive power over the species’ cultural importance. Also there is a need to protect forests from encroachments.   Constructions, pollution and stress on habitat also contribute to decline in medicinal plants and need to be checked.

Jammu and Kashmir like any other part in this part of the globe is witnessing a steady return to normalcy after an overwhelming spike in Covid-19 infections during the third wave.  From huge numbers, the covid-19 numbers have dropped to double-digit and many districts even record zero cases. On Sunday, 54 cases were reported while there was no death as a consequence. All this sounds good and it is here where complacency creeps in and may prove damaging. Even as the new infections reported are a few, they continue to crop up nevertheless. Two years after the coronavirus first surfaced in Wuhan area of China, the world remains far from getting a grip on it. In the process, the pathogen has wrought havoc claiming lives and livelihood. Economy is far from fully recovering.  There is still need to stay alert. Vaccination remains the key and also strict observance and enforcement of Standard Operating Procedures.

A significant number of the population in J& is still without vaccination. And they remain most vulnerable.

There is great sense to give pretty much everyone a booster shot. To date, not all in the 15 or above have received vaccines. Research including that done specifically on the vaccines available in India shows that a booster dose is not just effective but also necessary. Scientists around the globe are also coming around to the view that with three doses, people will be able to deal with most future variants of the Sars-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19.

Given the importance, it is time that they too get their shot. Elderly population and healthcare workers need to take booster doses without delay. As per the government’s own showing, 729 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered on Sunday. There is a need to ensure that more and more people take the vaccine.

To reduce the rate of transmission within J&K, all efforts shall be made by Authorities through active involvement of PRIs, Community Leaders, Market Associations and Federations.

Government has rightly underlined that the IEC campaign for containing Covid cases shall be undertaken by all District Magistrates (Chairperson, District Disaster Management Authorities) in their respective jurisdictions highlighting the necessity of Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB). The Department of Health and Medical Education, Jammu and Kashmir shall continue to sensitise people about the Variants of Concern/variants of Interest (VoCA/ol) of Covid-19 including the new Variant B. 1.1.529 (Omicron).