Shimla, Jan. 20 -- A tripartite MOU was signed on Monday between the Indian Army, government of Himachal Pradesh and Shree Baidyanath Ayurved, Jhansi, aiming to promote large scale cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants in selected border and remote villages of the state. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the collaborative framework will play a vital role in reviving and promoting traditional ayurvedic practices and generating sustainable rural livelihoods at the same time. As per MoU, Ayush department will provide technical know-how and impart training on various aspects of cultivation of medicinal plant. The company will ensure assured procurement at fixed prices and will also supply high quality seeds or saplings of the selected medicinal plants. The Indian Army will carry out training and technical sessions for the farmers. CM Sukhu on Monday chaired a meeting of senior officers of health department and directed that patients visiting government health institutions be provided with quality medicines. He said that the state government would soon invite tenders of approximately Rs.100 crore for the procurement of medicines and would also ensure the participation of reputed pharmaceutical companies. He said that medicines would be procured directly from manufacturers, so that world-class drugs are made available to patients in government health institutions across the state. He added that, if required, the state government would also make amendments to the Drugs Act to ensure quality medicines for the people to safeguard public interest....