In a major initiative to drive tribal welfare, foster sustainable livelihoods, and preserve traditional knowledge, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), Government of India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow. The primary objective of this three-year partnership is to establish a sustained, synergetic linkage between the two organizations to promote research and development for the conservation and ethnobotanical assessment of tribal bioresources across India.

The MoU was signed by Shri Manish Thakur, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and Dr. Ajit Kumar Shasany, Director, CSIR, in the presence of Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The occasion was also attended by Dr. Sharad Srivastava, Chief Scientist, CSIR, Dr. Sachitra Ratha, Scientist, CSIR, Dr. Manish Bhoyar, Scientist, CSIR, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Centering Tribal Welfare in Scientific Research

Under this agreement, tribal welfare and community sovereignty serve as the foundational principles for all scientific activities. The partnership focuses heavily on the conservation of Rare, Endangered, and Threatened (RET) medicinal plant species through advanced interventions, including the development of tissue culture facilities and specialized seed banks. To ensure long-term, community-managed sustainability, local tribal youth will receive hands-on capacity building and technical training in these propagation and conservation techniques. Furthermore, all field assessments and research activities will strictly require the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) of local Gram Sabhas and tribal communities, fully complying with the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. Every joint project proposal will feature a dedicated budget line item for grassroots community development, local value addition, and capacity building. To protect local interests, any intellectual property generated will be jointly owned by MoTA and CSIR-NBRI, held in trust for, or shared equitably with, contributing tribal communities, with financial gains funneled back through National or State Biodiversity Funds and dedicated MoTA welfare schemes. The agreement explicitly recognizes Traditional Knowledge as the intangible cultural heritage of tribal peoples, requiring strict compliance with national Access and Benefit Sharing mechanisms to prevent unauthorized commercialization.

Bridging Traditional Knowledge and Modern Science

Through joint thematic events, seminars, and sustained exchange programs involving traditional practitioners and scientists, MoTA aims to bridge tribal community knowledge with cutting-edge botanical science. By empowering tribal youth and strengthening local capacity, the alliance ensures that bioresource conservation directly translates into sustainable community development and cultural preservation.

 

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