We indians are quite immune to these scams wherein the government fools tax payers telling them that they would make the country a better one, but end up filling their own pockets. So here it is, yet another master stroke move by the state government of Uttarakhand in northern India.
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While the new educated generation finds it tough to believe in the ancient mythical tales or Hindu God's and goddesses, there is this government that is spending millions to find a plant mentioned in these mythological tales. Yes, you heard it right. The state government has come up with an estimate of 25 crore INR to find the 'sanjeevani booti' the herb that according to mytholical tales grew in the hills in that region. The herb which is believed to have special powers to heal all diseases is only heard of in the tales, but the government is quite sure that it still exists on the hills and are positive about finding it.
For those who don't know the story, Sanjeevani booti' is that special herb that is said to have cured Lord Rama's younger brother Laxmana when he was injured in a fatal attack. It is believed that the healer mentioned about the herbs existence in the mountains and Lord Rama immediately sent mighty Hanuman to find it. Hanuman, however had never seen the herb and he didn't actually have much time to waste, so he lifted the whole mountain and brought it to the healer to find it himself. The herb was found and Laxmana was saved.
The central government however refused to be a part of this nonsense, so the state government is funding the search for a plant that probably doesn't exist at all.