SBBS resumes production after halt of four months

The Singhadurbar Baidyakhana Bikash Samiti (SBBS), the only state-owned manufacturer unit that produces Ayurvedic medicines has resumed production with a halt of four months. Now, the latest product is Triphala (a herbal remedy), a mixture of three dried fruits (Amala (Indian gooseberry), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica) and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula).

This follows the appointment of Dr Shyam Babu Yadav as its officiating executive director by the Ministry of Health and Population recently.

Earlier, employees of the SBBS with permanent status had been protesting accusing its former officiating executive director Dr Sabari Shah of overstaffing the company through the rampant appointments at a time when the company was out of production. Until recently, around 50 employees at the SBBS had been drawing salaries without work as it was out of production.

Now, the company will be producing other medicinal herbs, said an SBBS employee.

Without production and sales, the SBBS employees were deprived of salaries for four months. But, following the appointment of Yadav, their salaries in lumps were deposited in their bank accounts, said the employee.

Meanwhile, the company is struggling to meet increasing demands for its Ayurvedic products.

It lacks Shilajit (Mineral Pitch), a mineral-rich resin that has long been used in Ayurveda healing for the past six months. Likewise, Avipattikar churna, an Ayurvedic medicine used for the treatment of gastric, is also in short supply for the past four months.

At least 25 people visited the SBBS on a daily basis for the products. But they were forced to return them empty-handed without the products, said Aaditya Thakur of the sales department.

Shilajit worth Rs 10 million was supplied following its bidding between 2066 BS and 2070 BS. Recently, a bidding has been called to supply 3000 kg Shilajit, he said.

Similarly, it lacks Chyawanprash, an Ayurvedic health supplement made from a mixture of nutrient-rich herbs and minerals. The supplement is also in high demand, said Thakur.