SHRI SHIVAJI SCIENCE COLLEGE, AMRAVATI
DBT STAR COLLEGE PROJECT ACTIVITY
ACTIVITY REPORT
Aajibai cha Batwa ( Infromation of Medicinal Plants)
Activity Dates: 28/02/2025
Type of Activity: Students Workshop
Organizing Department: Department of Botany & Bioinformatics
Program Coordinators: Dr Swati V. Pundkar
Head of the Department: Dr Dinesh D. Khedkar
External Collaborator (if any): No.
Objectives:
- Educate students about the importance and uses of medicinal plants in traditional medicine.
- Inspire students to conserve and protect medicinal plants and their habitats.
- Equip students with the skills to identify, cultivate, and utilize medicinal plants safely and effectively.
- Encourage students to explore and learn about the scientific and cultural aspects of medicinal plants.
- Inspire students to develop entrepreneurial skills related to medicinal plants, such as cultivation, processing, and marketing.
No of Beneficieries: 321
Classes Involved: Various School Students (B.Sc. I and M.Sc. I and II students from our college)
Venue of the Activity: MeMedicobotanical Garden, Department of Botany Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati.
Activity Report:
Activity Report:
To celebrate National Science Day, the Department of Botany and Bioinformatics at Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati, successfully conducted an insightful and culturally enriching program titled “Aajibai Cha Batwa” ( Information of Medicinal Plants), focusing on the information and awareness of medicinal plants. The core objective of this initiative was to promote awareness, conservation, and develop knowledge regarding the significance of medicinal plants among students and the broader community.
To collect and conserve traditional knowledge about medicinal plants and their uses in daily life. The name “Aajibai Cha Batwa” translates to "Grandmother’s Pouch." Traditionally, grandmothers kept a small pouch filled with useful and healing household remedies—mostly plant-based. Just like our grandmothers used to keep a pouch (batwa) full of valuable things, This symbolic title aptly represents the essence of the program, which aims to preserve the herbal knowledge that has been passed down through generations. It connects traditional wisdom with modern understanding by highlighting the medicinal values of plants that are often found in our backyards. this symbolic ‘pouch’ contains the precious herbal knowledge passed down through generations. The initiative not only emphasizes the preservation of indigenous knowledge but also promotes awareness of the medicinal value of commonly found plants. Aajibai Cha Batwa is more than just a collection of medicinal plants—it's a celebration of our roots, our grandmothers’ wisdom, and the healing power of nature. In an age where we are moving toward organic and sustainable living, initiatives like this play a vital role. They not only help in preserving biodiversity but also bridge the gap between traditional knowledge and modern healthcare. This activity focuses on collecting, preserving, and spreading awareness about the medicinal uses of plants found in our surroundings. It draws inspiration from the age-old practice where grandmothers used simple herbs and plants for treating common ailments, using their traditional wisdom and experience. The activity is not just educational, but also deeply rooted in cultural revival and environmental awareness.
The importance of Ayurveda in life is extraordinary. This initiative was organized to spread the information about Ayurvedic plants to every household through students for living a healthy life. This exhibition features the pride of the Botany Department, i.e. the herbal garden. More than 70 herbal plants have been planted and are being nurtured in it. School and college students participated in this exhibition with great enthusiasm and added to their knowledge. About 321 students from various schools visited this herbal garden and learned about the importance of plants.
The “Aajibai Cha Batwa” activity was conducted in our school/community as an awareness and learning program involving students, teachers. The activity included the following key steps:
a) Interaction with Elders and Traditional Healers
Our college Students with school students, herbal practitioners to collect information about commonly used medicinal plants. These interactions provided a rich source of firsthand information about the uses, preparation methods, and applications of medicinal plants in traditional household remedies. The wisdom shared during these exchanges became a key element of the documentation process.
b) Documentation of Medicinal Plants
Our college students documented 5–10 medicinal plants with the following details:
• Common name and local name
• Scientific name
• Parts used (leaf, root, flower, etc.)
• Method of preparation (paste, juice, decoction, etc.)
• Ailments it is used to treat
Through this process, school students learned how medicinal plants use is deeply rooted in cultural history, and how it has evolved into formal subjects, numerous medicinal plants in syllabi to help foster this field academically. Hence, the availability of live specimens in college herbal gardens is vital for study, observation, and research.
The use of plants as medicine is as old as human civilization. By considering the role of medicinal plants in human life, UGC New Delhi has incorporated many medicinally important plants in the syllabus of UG and PG. Hence, medicinal plants should be available in the garden throughout the year for study and practical purpose to UG, PG and researchers.
In our garden patch-A and patch-B are developed for plantation of medicinal plants. In that around 70 different medicinal plants species are planted and maintained. Majority of them are collected personally from various localities. The plants are from different families viz. Liliaceae, Lamiaceae, Aросynaceae,, Acanthaceae, Verbanaceae, Agavaceae, Solanaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Piperaceae, Poaceae, etc. Plants are categorised into following categories species, aromatic plants, drug containing plants, resin, dyes, bio- diesel plants etc.
A wide range of herbs, shrubs, and climbers were medicinal planted, plants in carries like, Ruta sps., Rauwolfia, Bacopa, Cliteria, ternacia, Glorisa superba, Tinospora cordifolia, Cultivated, Wild and Black Chlorophytum sps., Oscium sanctum, Mentha Spicata, Asparagus sps, Guggul, Semicarpus ,Aloe sps. etc Plants of commercial interest like Bixa sps. for dyes, Jatropa sps. for Bio-diesel were also planted. Cissus quadrangularis, known for its bone-healing properties
While the two triangles at corners were filled with various ferns and ornamentals. One Side is left for the entry as well as for beautification. Various seasonal are being used for that. The central Cycas plant was shaped and its side beautification was done with help of Lily, Duranta, Cosomos plants etc.
Students from various schools visited this initiative and gave a spontaneous response.
In this initiative, graduate and postgraduate students of the Botany Department of the college and teachers of the department gave detailed information about the importance and use of herbal plants.All the students, teachers and non-teaching staff of the college also visited this herbal garden and got information about herbal plants. On this occasion, medicinal plant saplings were distributed to the school teachers and biscuits and jaljeera were distributed to the students. There is also a DNA model in the gallery for school students.
Knowing that school students are the biggest factor in spreading information about various herbal plants to the doorsteps, the department successfully implemented this initiative.Head of the Botany Department Dr. Dinesh Khedkar, Dr. Ganesh Hedawoo, Dr. Rekha Maggirwar, Dr. Swati Pundkar, Dr. Prashant Deshmukh, Dr. Avinash Darsimbe, Dr. Ankit Kale and the students worked hard for the successful organization of this program.
Conclusion:
The Workshop on Medicinal Plants was a successful event that provided participants with comprehensive knowledge and hands-on experience in the field of medicinal plant science. The combination of theoretical lectures, practical fieldwork enabled participants to develop a deeper understanding of the role of medicinal plants in both traditional and modern healthcare systems. This activity met its objectives, and participants expressed interest in further exploring this field.
Outcomes:
- Students will have a better understanding of the importance and uses of medicinal plants.
- Students will be able to identify and describe various medicinal plants, their habitats, and uses.
- Students will develop an interest in learning more about medicinal plants and their applications.
- Students will learn how to cultivate, process, and utilize medicinal plants safely and effectively.
- Students will contribute to the development of their communities by promoting the use of medicinal plants for healthcare and economic benefits.
Photos:
 Various school students gaining knowledge of medicinal plants |  School studenys visited Nethouse |
 Students visited and studing properties of Adathoda vasica plant |  College students explaing medicinal uses of Hibiscus |
 From our department donated one medicinal plant to school teacher |  with school students and teacher |
Attendance Sheet:
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