Kolkata: State Ayush department may adopt and replicate "Tulsi Gram" project in various parts of North Bengal after it has seen the success of the project in remote village of Tufangang I in Cooch Behar. "Tulsi Gram" project was initiated in 2013 by 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. The Ayurveda practitioner, Dr Basab Kanti Dinda chalked out a comprehensive plan on how to involve and encourage the local people in his campaign of planting Tulsi saplings which have high medicinal qualities in every household. "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. Through relentless campaigns, awareness is being spread among the villagers in the area. We also conduct camps at various schools colleges demonstrating how Tulsi help us in various ways," Dr Dinda said. The district Ayush medical officer and various senior health department officials from North Bengal visited the village recently during a programme and expressed keen interest on the implementation of "Tulsi Gram" in other places. It may be mentioned here that most of the people in Cooch Behar belong to Rajbangshi community. People from Garo, Santal, Mech, Rabha community also live there. As per the 2011 census, total population of Cooch Behar was almost 28 lakhs, out of which more than 25 lakhs people live in villages. Due to the scarcity of modern medical facilities and illiteracy among people, villagers practice worship, chanting, perform sorcery and use amulets, folk medicine etc to get cured. Most of the people in Velapeta belong to Rajbangshi. Most of them are farmers and loom workers and live in houses made of tin shed. Due to heavy cold and humidity the villagers suffer from many ailments throughout the year. Block primary Health centre is also 5 kms away. As a result, many tend to visit quacks thereby complicating their health condition. Tulsi helps people to cure fever, common cold, cough, nasal blockage, sore throat, headache, U.T.I, ring worm etc. It also checks asthmatic attack and increase immunity. The villagers can also earn some money by selling Tusi. Dr Sumit Sur, Zonal Coordinator of NASAY said: "We are thankful to Dr Dinda and the state government for taking initiatives to implement such scheme."

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