Lok Sabha Question No. 172 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: Research on Tribal Medicinal Plants
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: S.R. Parthiban

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.172

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2021

## RESEARCH ON TRIBAL MEDICINAL PLANTS

## 172.  SHRI PARTHIBAN S.R:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  tribals  have  the  traditional  knowledge  of  curing  disease  with  locally  available  medical plants, if so, whether any research institute has been given any project for research on tribal medicinal practices and medicinal plants, so as to preserve this knowledge; and
- (b) if so, State-wise/Union-Territory-wise details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SMT. RENUKA SINGH SARUTA)

(a)&(b):  Yes,  Sir.  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  has  sanctioned  number  of  projects  to  State  Tribal Research institute / renowned research  Institutes for under taking  research  work on Tribal medicinal practices and medicinal plants under the schemes 'Support to Tribal Research Institutes '  and 'Tribal Festival, Research Information and Mass Education'. Moreover, Ministry has made Tribal Research Institute, Uttarakhand as the nodal & coordinating TRI for all projects related to traditional medicine and healing practices. The details of such sanctioned projects, State-wise/Union Territory-wise is at Annexure.

Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (a)  &  (b)  of  the LokSabhaUnstarred  Question  No.172  for answer on 19.07.2021

|   S.No. | States         | Name of Project                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|---------|----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Kerala         | Documentation of knowledge of more than 300 major tribal healers of Kerala                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|       2 | Sikkim         | The State of Sikkim TRI has conducted study on 'Identification, documentation and validation of ethno-medicinal plants practices by the Lepcha tribes of Sikkim'                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|       3 | Rajasthan      | M.L.V. Tribal Research & Training Institute has done project for documentation & research of tribal medicinal knowledge                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|       4 | Madhya Pradesh | The TRI has made a study on the medicine used by tribals. One project has been sanctioned to AIIMS, Bhopal titled "natural product isolation with characterization of active ingredients and ethnobotanical role of medicinal plants used in tribal population of Madhya Pradesh- medicinal chemistry perspective with special emphasis on in vitro anti neoplastic property".                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|       5 | Karnataka      | i. Preservation of indigenous knowledge among the tribals. ii. Ethno-medicinal practice among Hakkipikki iii. Research Study on Ethno-medicinal practice among Rajgond,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|       6 | Odisha         | 1. Traditional Medicinal Healing Practices among Selected Scheduled Tribe Communities in Odisha 2. Indigenous Ethno-Medicinal Practices among the Kandha and Santal of Odisha 3. Compendium on Traditional Tribal Medicine (Bonda, Didayi, Kandha, DongriaKandha, Santal, Munda, Bhumij, Kolha, Kharia, Mankirdia, Juang, Saora, Koya, Kisan, Dharua, Oraon, Bhuiyan, Gadaba, Bhunjia, Gond). 4. Indigenous Knowledge on Selection, Sustainable Utilization of Local Flora and Fauna for Food by Tribes (PTG) of Odisha: A Potential Resource for Food and Environmental Security. |
|       7 | Assam          | Tribal Research Institute has conducted research study on 'Documentation of Medicinal Plants of Assam'                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|       8 | Maharashtra    | Research and Documentation of Traditional Healing Practices of Tribal Communities in Maharashtra.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|       9 | Manipur        | i. Research Study on Medicinal Herbs &Plants - Tribal Medicine ii. Tribal Medicine and Healing Practices                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|      10 | Tripura        | i. Tribal Folk Medicines of Tripura. ii. Tribal Healers and Medicinal Practices in Tripura. iii. Medicinal Plants &Herbs: A study on its uses amongst the tribal community of Tripura. iv. UpajatiKobiraj O OchaiderBanousodhiChikitsha O Chas Poddhoti (Bengali).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |

Under  the  scheme  'Tribal  Festival,  Research  Information  and  Mass  Education',  Ministry  has sanctioned projects to renowned Institutes for research on Tribal medicinal practices and medicinal plants. The details are as under:

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Institute                                                         | Project details                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | National Institute of pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Guwahati | a) Documentation of traditional health care practices, traditional medicines and to enable research b) To validate the traditional medicinal knowledge used by tribal population for treating cardio- metabolic diseases                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|         2 | Paravara Institute of Medical Science, LONI                                   | Survey for Identification, Enlisting of Traditional Tribal Healers, Study, Documentation and testing of Tribal Health Traditions, Tribal Medicine (Healing Practices and Ethno-Medicine) of different Tribal Communities in State of Maharashtra.                                                                                                                                                             |
|         3 | Patanjali Research Institute, Dehradun                                        | Traditional Medicine and healing practices.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|         4 | All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur                              | a. Study of epistemology of traditional knowledge &practice of local/traditional healers of district Sirohi, Rajasthan. b. Effect of the region-specific module for the training and capacity building on behavioral change among traditional healers of district Sirohi, Rajasthan. c. Piloting of telemedicine with special reference to health needs of indigenous habitats of district Sirohi, Rajasthan. |