CCRAS to Organize Landmark National Consultative Meet on “Research Priority Settings in Traditional Medicine” in Collaboration with WHO

• June 24, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), an apex autonomous organization under the Ministry of Ayush, is set to organize a one-day National Consultative Meet on "Research Priority Settings in Traditional Medicine" on June 24, 2024, at the India Habitat Center, New Delhi. This significant event, held in collaboration with the WHO- SEARO (World Health Organisation-South-East Asia Regional office) and WHO-GTMC (Global Tradional Medicine Center), marks a pioneering effort in aligning traditional medicine research with global standards and priorities.

WIPO concludes new treaty to protect genetic resources, traditional knowledge; India plays key role

• May 25, 2024

Source: The Hindu

Members of Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have concluded an agreement under which it will be mandatory for patent applicants to disclose country of origin or source of genetic resources if the claimed invention is based on those materials or associated traditional knowledge. The treaty will provide additional protection for Indian genetic resources and traditional knowledge. Although these are currently protected within India, they are prone to misappropriation in countries, which do not have disclosure obligations.

Nations agree landmark treaty on traditional knowledge, protecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights

• May 24, 2024

Source: UN News

Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) – a specialized UN agency – on 24 May 2024 agreed to a groundbreaking new treaty addressing intellectual property (IP) in relation to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. Mr. Daren Tang, Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), stated that today, we made history in numerous ways. This is the first new WIPO Treaty in over a decade, and it is also the first to address genetic resources and traditional knowledge held by Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Workshop on ‘Traditional Knowledge for Sustainable Lifestyle’ organized in Guwahati

• May 20, 2024

Source: The Sentinel

A workshop on “Traditional Knowledge for Sustainable Lifestyle” was organized on 20 May 2024 in Guwahati. The primary objective of this workshop was to promote sustainable living through the application of Traditional Knowledge (TK), address lifestyle concerns through the integration of TK. This workshop seeks to convene various stakeholders in a single platform to enhance awareness and solicit their perspectives for subsequent action on Traditional Knowledge (TK) and Mission Lifestyle. The workshop was sponsored by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India. It was organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) -EIACP TERI North-Eastern Regional Center and Directorate of Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture, Government of Assam.

TERI gets nod to document Assam’s unexplored traditional knowledge

• May 20, 2024

Source: The Times of India

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), in collaboration with the Assam Directorate of Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture, has secured govt’s approval to document the unexplored traditional knowledge (TK) of Assam. The objective is to identify and replicate the most efficient traditional techniques, methodologies and best practices to ensure their continuity and preservation. The collaboration aims to conduct “documentation, assessment and protection of TK in Assam.”

Meet on IPR exhorts scientists to document traditional knowledge

• May 04, 2024

Source: The Hindu

A workshop on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) held at CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram has called upon the scientific community to document traditional knowledge in a judicious manner to guard against their misuse by vested interests by various means including bio piracy. The workshop was held in connection with World IPR Day, for which 2024 theme was “IPR and Sustainable Development Goals - Building our common future with innovation and creativity.”
 

Indigenous seeds: a bond of climate-resilience, food security, and sustainable livelihood

• March 19, 2024

Source: Ukhrul Times

Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLC) used wild species and diverse semi-domesticated crops as a part of their livelihood, culture, and festivals. IUCN reports that the IPLC make up 5% of the world’s population, occupying 28% of the globe's surface, and 80% of the world's biodiversity is available in the vicinity of tribal and indigenous people territories. They preserved tubers, roots, and seeds for yearly cropping. Correspondingly, significant numbers of indigenous landrace have developed over hundreds of years from continuous uses and bio-cultural practices through selection in our region. We celebrate the seed sowing festival blending with bio-culture to acknowledge and bless the upcoming agro-activities. 

NIA signs MoU with Thailand's traditional medicine department for academic collaboration

• February 28, 2024

Source: The Economic Times

The National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur under the Ministry of Ayush of the Government of India and Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine of the Ministry of Public Health of the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the establishment of an academic collaboration in Ayurveda and Thai traditional medicine in New Delhi. The MoU was formalised at the 10th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting held at Hyderabad House, New Delhi on 27 February 2024. Mr BK Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Govenment of India, and Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, Director General, Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine Thailand signed the MoU in the presence of other dignitaries during the event. 

Inauguration of the Holistic Wellness Centre and launching of the Meghalaya Traditional Knowledge Portal

• February 23, 2024

Source: Shillong Today

A Collaborative Programme of Bio-Resource Development Centre an autonomous R&D Institution under Planning Department, Government of Meghalaya, The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi and the Meghalaya Basin Development Agency. Dr. M. Ampareen Lyngdoh, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister, Govt. of Meghalaya, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Department, have inaugurated the Holistic Wellness Centre & Launched the Meghalaya Traditional Knowledge Portal with the release of the Draft Book “Meghalaya Traditional Knowledge: Supporting Document for Course Curriculum in Schools” on the 22nd February, 2024 at BRDC Experimental Farm, Laitmynsaw, Upper Shillong in presence of Shri Sampath Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Health & Family Welfare Department.

Traditional “Comilla” cotton set to make a comeback in Garo Hills

• February 23, 2024

Source: Hub Network

Comilla Cotton- once the staple cash crop that boosted the economy of the farmers of Garo Hills who traded it in neighbouring Bangladesh, and which over the last many decades gradually disappeared owing to the entry of cheaper synthetic products, is now preparing to make a comeback through sustainable agro-based livelihood activities. As many as a hundred cotton farmers of Garo Hills joined a daylong workshop on “Comilla Cotton and other agro-based livelihood activities in the North East” program at Tura’s College of Community Science, on 23 February 2024, where experts from the Central Institute for Cotton Research in Nagpur and All India Coordinated Research Project on Women in Agriculture, ICAR-CIWA provided invaluable inputs on cultivating and promoting this once highly sought after cash crop of the Garo Hills.