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India Targets Recognition for 1 Lakh Tribal Healers to Boost Health Outreach

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has announced a national target to recognize one lakh tribal healers, aiming to engage them as partners in strengthening health outreach in tribal regions. This initiative involves collaboration with the Health Ministry and the Ministry of AYUSH, with identification and criteria handled at the state level. A capacity-building program was held in Hyderabad in January, attended by hundreds of healers, including 50 from Maharashtra. The ministry is developing structured training programs and has prepared an SOP that incorporates ethical considerations to protect traditional knowledge.

Key Points: National Target: Recognition for 1 Lakh Tribal Healers Announced

  • National target for 1 lakh healers
  • Healers as community health partners
  • Collaboration with Health & AYUSH ministries
  • Capacity building programs developed
  • SOP includes ethical safeguards
2 min read

Targeting recognition for one lakh tribal healers: MoS Durgadas Uikey

Ministry of Tribal Affairs sets target to recognize one lakh tribal healers as community health partners in collaboration with Health and AYUSH ministries.

"The Ministry has articulated an indicative national target to enable recognition of one lakh tribal healers. - Durgadas Uikey"

New Delhi, April 2

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has articulated an indicative national target to enable recognition of one lakh tribal healers while engaging them as community-level partners in strengthening health outreach in tribal areas, the Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday

Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey said that the Ministry earlier organised a national capacity-building programme for Tribal Healers at Hyderabad, Telangana, on January 16.

The aim was to engage tribal healers as community-level partners in strengthening health outreach in tribal areas in collaboration with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), ICMR-RMRC BB and the Ministry of AYUSH, he said.

Uikey said that the Ministry has articulated an indicative national target to enable recognition of one lakh tribal healers. However, identification, enumeration and criteria for recognition are undertaken at the State level and through health system frameworks under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of AYUSH.

In the capacity building programme held in January, the state governments had forwarded a list of 500 tribal healers for attending the programme. Around 50 tribal healers from Maharashtra attended the programme, said the MoS.

He said the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research - Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, is working on developing structured capacity-building and sensitisation programmes for tribal healers, including training on preventive care, awareness generation, early identification and referral linkages.

The protection of indigenous tribal medical knowledge and prevention of its misuse is primarily the responsibility of state governments, which oversee documentation processes and safeguard community intellectual rights, he said.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has prepared a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for capacity building programmes that incorporates ethical considerations, including prior informed consent and respect for traditional knowledge systems, said a statement.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
One lakh target sounds ambitious. The real challenge will be the "criteria for recognition" at the state level. Need transparency to ensure genuine healers benefit, not just those with political connections. The SOP with ethical considerations is a good step.
A
Aditya G
Finally, our tribal knowledge systems are getting the respect they deserve. But "protection from misuse" is crucial. Big pharma companies should not be allowed to patent their remedies without sharing benefits with the communities. Jai Adivasi!
S
Sarah B
As someone working in public health, this collaborative model with AYUSH and Health Ministry is smart. Tribal healers can be force multipliers for health messaging. Hope the referral linkage training is robust to handle serious cases properly.
M
Meera T
Only 50 from Maharashtra in a national program? Shows how much ground needs to be covered. Hope the states take this seriously and don't treat it as just another scheme. Our tribal brothers and sisters need quality healthcare access.
V
Vikram M
Good move, but recognition alone is not enough. They should get some honorarium or incentive to stay motivated as community health partners. Also, need to ensure their traditional practices are documented respectfully, not just studied and taken.

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