Lok Sabha Question No. 1041 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-26
Subject: Healing System of Tribals
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1041

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2021

## HEALING SYSTEM OF TRIBALS

## 1041. ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any initiative to protect the healing system of tribals in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any proposal to establish any institute to promote traditional knowledge of tribals with respect to healing in the state of Kerala; and (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a  &  b)  Yes,  Sir.  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs provides  funds 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'. Research organisations conduct many programmes and activities to identify, document and collect details about ethnomedicine,healers and their therapeutic practices  of  treatment  of  diseases.   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   projects  undertaken  by  State  Tribal  Research  Institutes  / research organizations are annexed.

(c  &  d) There  is  no  proposal  in  the  Ministry   to  establish  any  institute  in  the  State  of  Kerala  to promote traditional knowledge of tribes for healing.

Annex referred to in reply to part (a) & (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.1041 for answer on 26.07.2021

- A.   The details of  projects undertaken by State Tribal Research Institutes/ research Organizations:
- B.    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:

|   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           | Preservation of indigenous knowledge among the tribals. Ethno-medicinal practice among Hakkipikki Research Study on Ethno-medicinal practice among Rajgond,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|       6 | Odisha              | Traditional Medicinal Healing Practices among Selected Scheduled Tribe Communities in Odisha Indigenous Ethno-Medicinal Practices among the Kandha and Santal of Odisha 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). 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 | MaharashtraResearch | and Documentation of Traditional Healing Practices of Tribal Communities in Maharashtra.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|       9 | Manipur             | Research Study on Medicinal Herbs &Plants - Tribal Medicine Tribal Medicine and Healing Practices                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|      10 | Tripura             | Tribal Folk Medicines of Tripura. Tribal Healers and Medicinal Practices in Tripura. Medicinal Plants& Herbs: A study on its uses amongst the tribal community of Tripura. UpajatiKobiraj O OchaiderBanousodhiChikitshaO Chas Poddhoti (Bengali).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|      11 | Mizoram             | Research, Patent and Documentation of traditional Medicine and Plants practices in Mizoram                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |

|   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 | Pravara 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. |
|         5 | Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh.         | Documentation of ethno/traditional medicines (the process of collection, preparation, use and practice)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|         6 | Amrita Vishwa Vidvapeetham, Kerala                                            | Strengthening Tribal Health by building awareness and Integrating Tribal Healers into existing Health Systems in Odisha                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |

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